Alternative parenting/spiritual books??

[Codycatsmom]

Hi all,

I ordered these books from the library and just got them last night.

~Pagan Parenting: Spiritual, Magical and Emotional Development of the Child
~Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions
~Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-honoring Activities for Parents and Children

I've been looking at them tonight. Pretty interesting stuff...kind of comforting and healing. I don't consider myself Pagan but I do agree with some Pagan beliefs (not so much the magic/witch parts but the honoring earth stuff, etc.). I also feel similar in some ways to Buddhist beliefs and Native American beliefs. (please no bashing) I was just wondering if any of you have read these or have other books to recommend. I would appreciate some input on this and also on just educating your children in the various religions of the world. I want my dd to investigate and explore and not just believe what I believe (whatever that is!! LOL!) *because*.
Thanks!

Ccm

[BC-NanceLee]

Hi ccm! I have not read those, but they sound interesting.

The one I really enjoyed and returned to time and again was "Whole Parent/Whole Child" (or was it "Whole Child/Whole Parent"?) by an author whose last name is Berends. The way it links a parent's state of mind to the development of the child is fascinating - talking about the parent having to hold a picture of the child-to-be in his/her mind to allow the child something of a framework on which to build himself going forward. I loved it.

[Codycatsmom]

Hi NL,

I just searched for the book you mentioned on amazon but it looks like they don't sell the new version (only used...not that I have a problem with that, though). Will have to check my library for that, too, as it sounds good to me. I love what you said about picturing the "child-to-be"...that sounds so right to me and a good way to guide. Thanks for the recommendation.

Hugs,
Ccm

[Ourbrokenheart]

Wow,
These sound like great books, I am going to look into reading them myself.

Have you read On the Day You Were Born, by Debra Frasier and Allyn Johnston??

It is an AMAZING way to teach a child about how the Earth welcomed them.

Blessings,
K

[Pebbles]

have any of you ever read Mountains, Meadow, and Moonbeams. By Mary summer Rain. What was you opinion if you did?

[Codycatsmom]

Hi K and Pebbles...

Sorry I haven't been back to my original post in a while...so I just found your replies. I'm going to request these books from the library as they both sound good!

As an update, I really enjoyed all three of the books I mentioned in the first post. I ended up keeping "Circle Round" and "Celebrating the Great Mother" for as long as the library would let me have 'em...renewed over and over until their automated system said no more! I'll probably buy them both someday.

Would love some more book recommendations or even just your thoughts on alternative parenting...or website recommendations, too.

Thanks for replying!
Ccm

[Pebbles]

Did you find any more good books? I am looking now for books for my oldest dd she has started asking some questions.

[BC-SgtMom]

I know that Barefoot Books has a childrens book (ages 4-7) about goddesses. I got it b/c it contains a Lakotan story and my dd is half Lakota. I can get the info on it if anyone is interested - she's sleeping in that room at the moment.

Take care,
Kate

[Pebbles]

Kate, do you have the name of the book. I would love to get it. I recently got one of the barefoot books for DD the one with blessings from diffirent cultures, I really love it.

[MT_firegirl]

You should try also.."Raising Witches" by Ashleen O'Gaea

It's not quite so much on raising witches per se as it is about how to introduce the concepts to children of earth based worship at different ages and how they can feel close in their hearts to the world around them through activites that they can do with parents. Easy read also.