Who Am I?

Let me tell you a little about my personality. I am an introvert--a person who gets recharged by being alone (that's one reason I stay up so late at night on the computer after my children fall asleep when I, too, should be in bed sleeping :-/ ). Also, I am shy. Some people tell me I'm not, but other people will assure you that I am. I got an award for being the shyest in both the eighth grade and the 12th grade. People make me very nervous. I usually don't mind talking with someone one on one, but groups are very scary. I'm always afraid people will think I'm an idiot; also, I don't have very good "social skills" and am not very tactful. I'm an unorganized, sensitive (often over-sensitive), procrastinating, undecisive person. I am a perfectionist, and I have a melancholy temperament. I'm a "Moses" for those who know what that is. :) I'm an INFP, for those who know what that is. :) There, I'd thought I'd like to share that information to hopefully encourage anyone else out there who is also shy. (By the way, my husband is shy, too, so two shy people together can work!!) Okay, let me add one more thing. . . I admit that I am opinionated. *Sigh* My dad calls me an idealist. And I think I might have ADD, at least I have many of the "symptoms" of ADD. That's not so bad, though: take a look at this neat website about ADD. . . Born to Explore.

Some Things That I Believe

I am a Christian--a Reformed Baptist. Just as everyone, I am a sinner in need of God's grace. I deserve to die and spend eternity in hell, but, because of His love for me, God the Father sent His Son--perfect, pure, holy Jesus--to die in my place. Jesus took the punishment for my sin. Jesus came back to life three days after He died. Through the grace of God I was given the faith to believe in Jesus and what He did for me. Because of His grace I am able to say that I am a Christian on my way to heaven. Please see my testimony page for more info and links.

Politics is not a favorite subject of mine. I am more conservative than not, and I vote "Republican" most of the time, but I don't call myself a Republican. I voted for George W. Bush. :)

There are some "political" topics that interest me. . . for instance, breastfeeding legisation. I support legislation that protects a mother's right to breastfeed in public. Another issue is mandatory vaccinations--the government tells parents they must vaccinate their child or their child won't be allowed to attend daycare or school. Actually, most states have exemptions, and I am very happy that I live in a state that provides all three forms of exemptions--philosophical, religious, and medical. Another issue I find interesting is legislation involving midwives. Some states don't "allow" midwives to attend homebirths. I believe that women should have the right to have birth wherever they want with whomever they want.

Now there is another issue I am interested in. . . spanking in schools. I am dead set against it, yet it is allowed in many states and some children get spanked by teachers against their parents' wishes. For more information please visit Project NoSpank.

A child's life starts at the moment of conception and from that moment on he has a right to life. A pregnant mom has the duty and privilege to take care of herself and her child during pregnancy so that her baby has the best possible chance at life. With that in mind, I have put together the Unborn Children are People Too page.

The births of Ellen and Calvin were incredible experiences. Ellen's birth was a hospital birth, and I gave birth to Calvin at home in a birthing tub. Reading others' experiences of childbirth help us learn and be more prepared and also help us understand what other moms go through. I think pregnant moms and dads should prepare for childbirth and learn all they can about it so that they can be active participants in this wonderous and life-changing event. Mothers who empower themselves with knowledge can feel confident in their ability to make wise choices for themselves and their baby. See my Childbirth Info, Stories, Etc. page to get started!

After the birth of our first child, who was a high-need baby, we found that being parents to a helpless, new baby was an overwhelming experience. Our second child is more easy-going, we are more confident, and I feel more free to listen to my mothering instincts--plus my husband was home for almost three weeks after Calvin's birth!--so things have been a lot easier.

Mothers should hold and cuddle and nurse their baby often. Please don't worry about spoiling your baby. Your baby lived inside your womb for 9 months or so, and it will take time for him to get used to this harsh world. Be gentle and respond to his needs with promptness and love. Your baby cries to communicate his needs to you. The more you listen and respond to your child, the better the two of you will get to know each other. If you ignore your child's cries, you will become insensitive to your child's needs. If you are always there for your baby, he will come to depend upon and trust you--the best base for building a loving, nurturing relationship. Through his relationship with you, he will learn how to relate to others. For more information on this, please check out my Caring for an Infant and Parenting Resources pages. You might also want to check out Gentle Christian Mothers.

By breastfeeding, we can help our children to be what they were meant to be physically, mentally, and emotionally. Breastmilk is truly God's design in infant nutrition. Nursing on cue provides the most wonderful and natural way for mother and baby to get to know each other and to build a foundation of trust. Toddlers greatly benefit from nursing, too, and natural weaning helps strengthen the foundation of trust. Breast is Best page has helpful breastfeeding information and links.

When Ellen was 10 months old, we started studying about vaccinations and found out that vaccines have some very awful, very real, side effects, and the vaccines are not always effective. Ellen has not had any vaccinations since then, and Calvin has never had any vaccinations. For more information on this topic, check out the links on my Be Informed About Vaccinations page.

Thank you for these special awards!