Holistic Moms Network: A Community for Holistic Families
By Debbie Radvar

Being a mom or a dad is incredibly hard work. It is even harder when you seem to be the only mom or dad who is doing things "differently," whether that means eating organic foods, breastfeeding, seeing a chiropractor or simply cutting the sugar and processed food out of your family's diet. Even the most informed and aware parent can start to second-guess healthy choices, doubt gut instincts and begin feeling a bit isolated. This increases as the children get older and the family faces integrating its lifestyle into a society filled with fast food, chemically sprayed soccer fields and health-care providers that dole out pharmaceuticals at every visit. Parents may find it very challenging to create an environment that is non-toxic, feed nutritious food to the family and seek out alternative practitioners. Parents may find it even more stressful to have their holistic approach to health dismissed by others.

This premise caused Nancy Massotto to form Holistic Moms Network (HMN). Looking to find support and share resources for holistic parenting, Nancy and her small group began to meet monthly in the office of a New Jersey chiropractor in 2002. Today, due to Nancy's vision and incredible diligence, Holistic Moms Network is an official 501c(3) non-profit organization that has grown to more than 80 active chapters in 30 U.S. states and Canada.

The newest chapter was formed recently in Cleveland, where more than 70 eager moms and dads showed up at the HMN open house in hopes of finding others who share in their interest in holistic parenting. This amazing turnout, as well as the consistent attendance of over 60 parents at each monthly meeting, was an obvious reflection of the desire for parents to connect with others who are like-minded while raising their children as naturally as possible.

HMN believes that coming together as holistic parents and supporting one another is empowering because it offers support and validation. It creates an environment that respects a parent's right to make informed decisions about one's own health, the health of the families and parenting choices. The opportunity to learn and grow together enables parents to make the best decisions and affirm their choices, as well as create an enriching community in which to participate, renewing and reinvigorating themselves and each other.

“It is so refreshing to be in a room of moms and dads who all 'get it;' they don't look at you like you are 'neurotic' if you limit your child's sugar or 'crazy' for using natural lawn care,” shares Melissa Marino, a member of the Cleveland HMN chapter. She continues, “It can be very isolating and exhausting to always be defending your position.”

HMN is paving the way as a resource for a perspective that was once considered “alternative” but is now beginning to creep into the mainstream as parents question the status quo. More importantly, chapters provide holistic families a nurturing, open-minded and respectful community, a sense of belonging and acceptance that is not generally experienced in their daily lives.

Debbie Radvar, LMT and cranial sacral therapist, is the Cleveland chapter leader for the Holistic Moms Network. Visit her website at www.informedmoms.com and access the most up-to-date and credible research on topics related to the health of your children. She can be reached at debbie@informedmoms.com or (440)708-3333.