Earth Mothers
by Jennifer McGuffinAll things from cell phones to artificial sweeteners are viewed with a cautious eye, looking for quiet dangers or subtle troubles that many have not shown up yet in any medical study or research.
Enter the west suburban chapter of the Holistic Moms Network (HMN), a group of parents with a common interest in simplifying family life, as well as in gathering and sharing information about health, medicine, technology, food and more. The whole idea behind holistic living is to create harmony and to live with nature, believing there is a connection between all people and the world around them.
"It's great to have the support and a network of people with the same concerns, like avoiding artificial colors in my food, finding a "green" laundry detergent, or finding a pediatrician who shares your philosophy," says HMN member Jennifer Stahl. The Naperville resident is a mother to two children, ages 4 and 20 months.
The group is in its infancy in our area, but is growing fast. Lisa Rooney started the west suburban chapter of the national Holistic Moms Network after listening to a speech by the organization's president at a healthy living festival at Navy Pier in October of 2007. The Naperville-based group had its first meeting exactly one year ago, in April of last year.
"I was making choices just different enough from other mothers I met," says Rooney, who lives in Naperville with her family, including children, ages 3 and 5.
She makes sure the group is welcoming to women with all levels of interest and experience with healthy living issues. "You don't have to be completely holistic to attend," she says. "All it takes is interest. This is the perfect place to get started."
Member Jennifer Stahl agrees. "You can just go, listen and learn," she says.
The group holds meetings on the first Tuesday of every month at a local chiropractic office. The topic for April's meeting is detoxing yourself. This particular meeting will be discussion-based, allowing group members to share ideas and gather information about how to cleanse your body of unnatural chemicals, food additives, alcohol and other environmental pollutants.
Other monthly meetings feature guest speakers, who bring their knowledge of a particular topic to the group. The subjects of other recent meetings have included women's health as well as electromagnetic radiation from microwaves, cell phones and wifi, which raised a number of concerns from members.
"We are covering ourselves with a blanket of electromagnetic radiation, and our bodies feel it is an invader," says Rooney. "Our cells are on high alert because of it and can not function normally, and this can lead to fatigue and disease," she says.
There's also a regular Holistic Moms Network group that meets some mornings in the new Naperville Whole Foods for a more casual meeting that includes the kids and, of course, coffee. One topic that is of interest to the group is organic foods and how to make the best choices at the grocery store. The Holistic Moms Network, however, firmly believes there are many paths to good health. "We do not advocate one particular dietary choice. You have to be informed and do what is best for your family," Rooney says.
Those meetings are open to anyone, and have led to the formation of friendships and playgroups for mothers with babies and preschoolers.
"Children need to learn how to listen to their bodies and how to turn back to nature to solve these things."
Rooney says she is living proof that the holistic lifestyle works. After years of feeling flu-like symptoms, fatigue and taking naps at lunchtime on workdays, she was frustrated with the lack of improvement from traditional medical treatments. She then consulted with a doctor of osteopathic medicine, who diagnosed her with an overgrowth of yeast in her digestive tract. She was placed on a strict diet with herbs and supplements, and learned to make nearly all of her own food. She says her improvement was dramatic, and within two weeks regained nearly all of her energy. She was convinced of the benefits to a holistic lifestyle, and has maintained those practices ever since.
When Rooney started a family years later, she incorporated the same earth-based philosophy, making her own baby food, co-sleeping and breast feeding her babies until they weaned themselves.
"I was doing attachment parenting. It just felt like the right thing to do," she says.
But this style of child rearing and living is not so New Age anymore. In fact, supporters say it is both natural and traditional. Many area businesses also operate under a similar credo of connecting body, soul and planet, and they are happy to support the new Holistic Moms Network.
Dr. Fred Ratio, D.C., of the Riverview Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic in Plainfield, endorses the group. Many of his patients are interested in new ideas for health and healing. Ratio refers many patients to the Holistic Moms Network because it "provides a community I can send my patients to as a resource for parents who have similar lifestyle concerns."
HMN provides updates on meetings and programs to his clinic, and in return, Ratio offers discounts for patients referred by the Holistic Moms Network. The community of like-minded families continues to grow.
But for all the emphasis on healthy living, wholesome eating and environmental awareness, the Holistic Moms Network is about something even more. "The real focus is about community, creating depth of friendship and educating ourselves," says Rooney. "It really is a journey and we all need support."
The Holistic Moms Network, west suburban chapter:
- Monthly meetings: The first Tuesday of every month at the Health Doctors, Inc., 28379 Davis Parkway, Suite 803, Naperville at 7 p.m.
- Moms' coffee: The second Thursday of every month in the café at Whole Foods, 2607 W. 75th Street, Naperville, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Children are welcome!
- Membership fee: $45 per year
- For information call chapter leader
