Lauren Wayne, writer and mother. Riding the rails with my husband, Crackerdog Sam, and my hobo baby, Mikko Lint Picker, and a baby on the way. Trying every day to parent intentionally and with grace.

That's the short version.

I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister. I have wanted to be a writer since I was ten years old, and I have found a passion in blogging.

Parenting has changed me profoundly and has given me a new perspective and a new obsession. It was parenting that opened the door for me to write often about a topic I find compelling and inspiring.




This is the form my inspiration takes: Mikko (pronounced MEE-ko). He was born in June 2007 so is currently 3 and a half years old and astonishingly enjoyable. He teaches me more every day of what it means to be spontaneous, attached, and freaking hilarious.



Mikko weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces, when he was born — a natural birth after a hospital transfer from our planned home birth. We were all surprised at how big he was, and I was so proud I was able to deliver him naturally as I'd planned — not because birth is a contest, but just because it was such a rush. I can't even describe the euphoria I felt after I saw my baby and knew what my body had been able to do.

Speaking of babies, we have one more on the way — to be born in May or June 2011. Hooray!



Sam said not to put a picture of him up here, but I can't resist, since he's so cute. We were married in June 1998. I know that was a long time ago, but I was a teenage bride.

(Not really.)

Sam and I work from home selling DVDs online — until my amazing writing career takes off and takes care of us. Then we will be jetting to London and texting back and forth to my agent as we do something or other fabulous. But, for the moment, we enjoy the freedom working from home gives us to be together as a family, even though it creates some logistical challenges, in terms of keeping a preschooler from trying to "help" whoever's trying to work. It's hard to type when a three-year-old's banging on your keyboard, for instance.

Speaking of writing, I've written one full novel and two half-novels. I maintain way too many several blogs, including Hobo Mama, Hobo Mama Reviews, and LaurenWayne.com, as well as having cofounded Natural Parents Network. I was an English major in college and still retain a geeky appreciation of grammar.



My parenting philosophies run toward the crunchy, but I'm still very pragmatic. I advocate for breastfeeding, natural birth, babywearing, cloth diapering, elimination communication, gentle discipline, attachment parenting, and all the usual suspects. It's working great for us so far.

Most of my real-life friends (and they are still friends) parent differently, so I've enjoyed finding a supportive community online to encourage me. In general, I've been amazed at how much I enjoy the community aspect of blogging, considering I started blogging into the ether, not expecting anyone to listen in.

I co-host the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting, so check that out as either a reader or a participant if you're interested in similar topics and in connecting to other like-minded parents.



You can connect with me on Twitter and Facebook: friend and fan. You can email me at mail {at} HoboMama.com or use my contact form.

I love to make myself available, even though I am absolutely terrible at returning emails, phone calls, comments, and direct messages. But don't let that stop you. I read and appreciate them all.

I'll open up the floor. Anything you want to know? Leave a comment or sent me an email, and it's possible I'll eventually respond!

GUEST POSTS

• "A call to persist in babywearing" at Eco Baby Steps
• "The magic of wool: Benefits for cloth diapering" at Knickernappies blog
• "Making nursing in public comfortable for you" at NursingFreedom.org
• "Ten things to do during bad weather" at Catapult Magazine
• "The Joys of Breastfeeding a Toddler #11" at Code Name: Mama
• "Prevent child drowning: It's not like you see in the movies" at BlogHer
• "Unschooling is How Adults Naturally Learn" at The Mahogany Way

AWARDS & ASSOCIATIONS