Welcome to our latest monthly column, “Mom on the Street” (ya know, like “Man on the Street”).
Each month, we’ll be asking moms just like you for a slice of their sage advice, insider tips or
tried-and-true wisdom in the hopes that their unique brand of mothering inspires, assuages, calms,
strengthens and even amuses you.
Susie Hewson is the founder of Natracare (www.natracare.com), organic and natural feminine hygiene products.
Here’s what the Bristol, UK–based mother of two has to say:
 “Starting a business with a very young family was not easy, but it did require special attention to the division of my time as a mummy, a businesswoman and a wife. Looking at my beautiful 19- and 21-year-old sons today, both at University, and the international success of my company, with my products distributed in more than 45 countries, those late-night breast-feeding moments interspersed with international faxes and negotiations seem almost unimaginably crazy times.
The motivation for creating Natracare was my anger and concern for the pollution and toxins created by the manufacture and disposal of the conventional brands of tampons and pads. After all, it was my children’s future at stake. I was troubled over what state the environment would be in 20 years down the line if I didn’t try to make a difference today. Well, all too soon, we have come to learn what can happen in 20 years to our planet. The issues and problems are in the here and now, so we need to realize, as I did, that mothers can make a difference, because we have the nature and the nurture to take action to make sure the next 20 years bring peace, prosperity and an equitable climate for our children and all future generations waiting to take their place in history.
Perhaps it is rather a philosophical position to take, but I have a strong sense that I am the sum total of all the surviving my ancestors had to do through history in order for me to exist on this planet at this moment in time, and going forward, the choices I make and the products I buy and use will have an impact, large or small, on the progression of this ancestral chain. The love and responsibility of children makes me even more determined to do my very best to take the greatest care of the planet for future generations.
Those fears we have when our children are small never go away as they grow up, and the incredible and overpowering love does not diminish. I believe that my children are proud of what I have achieved with Natracare because they understand that being an ethical and environmentally considerate company/person is something to be really proud of, and I hope that they take these influences and principles with them through their journey into adulthood.
Our children grow up so quickly, and before we know it, they are moving out into the world to make their mark. Let’s make sure that the world they step out into doesn’t keep us awake all night long worrying that they are safe and sound. Starting Natracare was not easy—it was a constant juggle of family and work—but I worked hard so that I could ultimately stand proud with my beautiful, intelligent and caring sons.” |
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Andrea Donsky is one of the founders of www.naturallysavvy.com, a website dedicated to living a natural and organic lifestyle.
Here’s what this Toronto mom of two has to say:
 “Ask my children what my favorite store is, and without batting an eyelash, they’ll reply (in unison) ‘Whole Foods.’ From the moment they were born, I’ve always emphasized the importance of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet by putting good things into and onto our bodies. From the food we eat to the air we breathe to the shampoo we use to wash our hair, the products I choose are the most natural products available to me. I am a big believer in reading labels, and I try to avoid buying anything I can’t pronounce or understand.
People always laugh when I tell them my daughter’s first word was apple and her second one was seaweed. But as funny as that sounds, my kids were snacking on healthy food choices, such as seaweed, fish oil and flaxseeds, since they were infants. I believe we can train children from a young age to love healthy foods. Like many families, we lead a busy lifestyle, so finding healthy snack options for when we are on the go is crucial to helping us maintain our healthy lifestyle.
My passion for living a natural and organic lifestyle started about 12 years ago when I went back to school to become a holistic nutritionist. I knew then what I still know now—I am blessed to have found a passion that not only helps to improve my health and my family’s health, but one which can help improve the health of millions of others as well. This passion is called Naturally Savvy.” |
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Sonia S. Gupta lives in a suburb of Boston with her husband, 19-month-old daughter Anika and rambunctious dog Shakti. She is the creator of My Little Pakora (www.mylittlepakora.com), an organic baby clothing company and informational website on organic living. Here’s what this mother of one has to say:
 “After the birth of my first child, I realized how important it is to lead a healthy lifestyle. Every mother feels an innate need to protect and provide the healthiest and safest environment possible for her new child. Looking around me, I began to think and notice little things that, if added up, could have a major impact on my daughter’s health. I began to read about pollutants in the environment, the ingredients on food boxes, the chemicals in baby products and so on. I realized how little I understood about the damage these things could do. I wanted to give my daughter a happy and healthy life. Moreover, as parents, I wanted for my husband and I to set a good example of leading a healthy life. I realized my family needed a complete health makeover and overhaul from eating to exercising to just simply being.
For us, healthy living includes a balanced purer diet, activities for stress reduction, physical well-being and respect for the world we live in. We started small by improving our diet with organic foods and then moved on to larger things like walking everywhere, eliminating the use of chemical cleaners in the house, using energy-efficient lighting, and ensuring we are recycling and reducing.
Our family’s goal is to build healthy living blocks so my daughter has the foundation for a happy, long and healthy life. My daughter eats whole grains and loads of organic fruits and veggies, and we try to set a good example for her by eating those foods as well. What 19-month-old loves a plate of hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli and pita? We try to be as active as possible by walking our dog, hiking or going to the park. Meditation and yoga also play an integral role for me in leading a healthy lifestyle. Together they have given me a sense of purpose, focus and direction that I did not necessarily have before. I start my day with yoga to quiet the mind and to help me center myself for the day ahead. I take a few minutes throughout the day to meditate and think about the things I want to accomplish. This helps soothe and calm my soul, thus improving my health and ultimately the health and well-being of my wonderful family.” |
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