HMN Blog - Holistic Moms Network

The Essential Role of Support in Breastfeeding

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021 Holistic Moms

“Breast is Best”. “Breastfeeding is Natural.” As accurate as these slogans may be, breastfeeding doesn’t always come easily for many women. From latch challenges to supply problems, any mom – first time or not – can run into hurdles when it comes to breastfeeding. Our culture and the lack of support around breastfeeding can exacerbate the situation and make staying the course even harder. Without the pillars of support and community, moms face both obstacles and social pressures that often deter them from nursing their children. As the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) rightly notes, moms need support every step of the way.

It’s Plastic Free July. Plastic: Problems and Solutions

July 16, 2021September 14, 2021 Holistic Moms

We all know the general issues with single-use plastics, but it is always staggering to revisit some of the statistics, and good to share solutions we can implement personally, and within our communities. One of the Holistic Moms Network’s Guiding Principles is teaching our children to respect and care about the natural world. Another is living more simply and consuming less in an effort to reduce our impact on the environment and to emphasize non-material values. Teaching our kids about the issues with plastic, and how to reduce our use, as well as how to help bring change, is an important piece of these principles.

Holistic Moms Network Names New Officers

July 7, 2021July 7, 2021 Holistic Moms

The Holistic Moms Network (HMN) has recently seated a new Board of Trustees and named three new officers to lead the organization. Board Members include Barbara Arango, CAE, of Palatine, IL, Michael Connolly of Glen Gardner, NJ, and Megan Strauss, LMSW, of Salida, CO. Ms. Arango, a current Executive Director in the association space, has assumed the role of Chair. Mr. Connolly, retired VP-Treasurer of Tiffany & Co, was chosen as HMN Treasurer. Mrs. Strauss, a current Executive Director and Founder of a Colorado non-profit has been named Secretary.

The Science of Nature: Why Being Outdoors Matters

June 10, 2021July 7, 2021 Holistic Moms

by Nancy Peplinsky, Founder, Holistic Moms Network “Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” -Khalil Gibran If there can be silver linings for the pandemic […]

a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

Our Journey Together

May 12, 2021July 7, 2021 Holistic Moms

May is a month when moms are celebrated. At HMN we celebrate moms every day of the year! Join us as we strive to be that space full of mamas and families who are… open to learning and sharing knowledge, who are accepting of others’ wisdom, who understand the immense benefit of belonging to something you are invested in, to building a village that is a safe space, a respite from the division, a comforting space of understanding. We welcome you wherever you are on your journey. We invite you to join our nonprofit organization as a supporting community member… to be a part of the space we provide for intentional holistic community to share a piece of yourself with […]

HMN Member Jessica

April 14, 2021July 7, 2021 Holistic Moms

Tell us about your family: My husband and I have 3 children, my stepdaughter who is 14, my son who is two and a half, and my daughter who is 9 months. How long have you been a co-leader of HMN? I have been a co-leader of the MN-St. Cloud HMN Community for only a little while but look to getting more involved. What brought you to HMN? Wanting to connect with the local community and like-minded families My holistic passions are… Supporting local, community connectedness, and making informed choices I’m a chapter co-leader because… I want to help those in the community get connected and supported Get to know Kari: “Fear of the unknown. They are afraid of new […]

HMN Member Kari Johnson

April 14, 2021April 14, 2021 Holistic Moms

Tell us about your family: I have been married to my husband for 4.5 years. We have a 2.5 year old daughter and a 7 month old daughter. How long have you been a co-leader of HMN? I was originally a member of the St. Cloud chapter, but recently moved closer to the cities and became a co-leader for the Twin Cities chapter. What brought you to HMN? Since having children I have become very passionate about living a more holistic lifestyle. It can feel isolating at times not having a support system that understands questioning and not choosing to do everything the “mainstream” way. I’m grateful to have found the HMN community where we can all nonjudgmentally […]

Enough of Enough

April 5, 2021July 7, 2021 Holistic Moms

I was born a “not enough” person. I’m not sure where it all began but my parents would recount stories of my utter distress in kindergarten when I didn’t earn a gold star from the teacher. In high school, they repeatedly told me to fail something so that I could learn that my world would not end when I did. I was a born Type A – highly motivated, always striving, and never getting to enough.

Ground level view of vegetable and herb garden

The Life Garden

March 10, 2021March 13, 2021 Holistic Moms

“Hope is a seed.”

I found these words in one of my favorite gardening catalogues because gardening is the ultimate metaphor for life. Every seed embodies the very essence of hope. Hope for the first sign of those little green seedlings poking through the dark soil. Hope for the budding on growing plants reaching for the sun. Hope for a beautiful, healthy harvest of color and richness.

HMN Member Gabriela Monge

January 13, 2021January 13, 2021 Holistic Moms

Tell us about your family: We are a family of 5. I have 3 girls aged 11, 6, and 19 months. My husband and I are high school sweethearts rekindled and have been married for 7.5 yrs. We have a greyhound lab mix named Roxy. I’ve been co-leading actively for about a year and change although I was searching for a colead for quite a while. How long have you been a co-leader of HMN? I have been a co-leader for the Atlanta, GA Chapter since February of 2018. What brought you to HMN? I came across HMN through doing Facebook searches for holistic-minded “crunchy mom” Facebook groups in the Atlanta area when I was living in Virginia planning to […]