Conscious Parenting A New Future Begins at Home
Forward-thinking, holistic-minded Southwest Florida parents are rediscovering and living by “back to the future” values.
by Linda Sechrist I
n her recent blog, Holistic Mom’s Executive Director and founder Nancy Massotto cites the growing interest in a grassroots trend: holistic and conscious parenting. With chap- ters in 35 states, Massotto’s nonprofit organization is able to keep its finger on the pulse of parenting via a net- work of mothers and fathers inter- ested in lifestyle choices that promote awareness of environmental conserva- tion and holistic living. Trusting their instincts and parenting from the heart, holistic moms and dads investigate the pros and cons of all health care and parenting options, and live a life in balance by exploring natural solutions and using organic products. Although slow to meet the needs of parents who choose this lifestyle for their family, today’s marketplace is responding with retail products and services. To determine whether this trend is gaining momentum in South- west Florida, Natural Awakenings interviewed parents that have chosen to raise their children in alignment with “back to the future” values.
Gardening as Quality Time
A pediatrician who practices an old- fashioned version of Western medicine, as well as conscious parenting, Dr. Brian Thornburg focuses on a holistic approach to each that emphasizes well- ness and patient education to support the values of moms and dads striving to provide proper nutrition, healthy foods, exercise, spiritual development and education. Medical care delivered in his home-like office highlights the beauty of books and learning, along with his family’s backyard garden and small farm animals.
“I teach families that gardening together is important, because it al-
32 Collier/Lee Counties
The Thornburg family
lows them to share regular family time, learn where food really comes from, eat the nutrient-dense fresh foods they grow, interact with nature, make mem- ories and acquire useful life skills,” says Thornburg, who sends families to learn gardening skills from John Puig, at Eden Florida’s Eimerman Education Center gardens. “A significant benefit for the young families I work with is avoiding the obesity epidemic associ- ated with eating the standard Ameri- can diet,” he notes.
Making Healthier Choices
Whenever Vanessa Uzupes reflects upon the birth of her children, ages 2 and 6, she sees it as an important life passage for several reasons: It ush- ered in the wonders of stay-at-home motherhood, along with several new values that have led to a healthier lifestyle. “Although mine wasn’t totally the standard American diet, I became conscientious about eating healthy and buying organic for my children’s sake,”
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says Uzupes, who makes her own fresh baby food and chooses to follow an alternative vaccination schedule. The Uzupes feel that networking with other parents that share their val- ues is important. “We’ve drifted away from friends who criticize us for our healthier choices,” says Uzupes, who schedules family activities around at- home mealtimes. “It’s like returning to a set of values that existed in the 1950s, and while it takes more work and planning, we feel it’s worth it to have healthy children who are very much in balance with the Earth,” she enthuses. Doing away with cable TV leaves most evenings open for bike rides through the family’s non-gated neigh- borhood, counted on to help produce items for the Naples Really Really Free Market, at Fleischmann Park. “We have a great network in our community, and while the kids are enjoying free outdoor play time with other children, my hus- band and I get to visit with the adults, who love helping us collect items for the monthly market that gives away household objects, food and services,” advises Uzupes. “Our children love participating and sharing their outlived and outgrown treasures.”
The Marble’s son
America Marble, her husband Charles and their 2-year-old son lead a totally organic lifestyle, one that the couple followed long before their choice of natural childbirth. “Other than what we grow in our small garden, we buy everything at Food & Thought 100% Organic Farm Market,” says America, founder of the new Organic Super Baby website (
OrganicSuperBaby.com). She hosts classes and meet-up groups in the Naples area on topics such as healthy and inexpensive ways to increase your child’s nutrition organically.
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