What Does Scrunchy Mom Life Actually Look Like

Homemade chocolate cupcake cake with naturally dye sprinkles. No artificial dyes! Happy Birthday to my dye sensitive girl

The struggle as a mom to balance it all. Balancing all the schedules, all the emotions, all the laundry, everything is a balance. It's even a balance to determine healthy verse not so much, or using pharmaceutical medications verse homeopathic or holistic. I struggle with finding a balance because there is some things I am more crunchy others I am more silky.

This is why when I first heard the terms " crunchy" and "silky" mom, I had no idea what they meant. Was this some secret mom club I hadn't been invited to? Nope, not a secret mom club. Just fun names to describe different mom styles.

Crunchy Mom is all about natural living. Holistic medicine, home birthing, eats almost all organic foods, no technology, opts out of vax., all non-toxic.

Silky Mom embraces the conveniences of modern parenting. Formula feeding, allows tech and screen time, keeps up with latest trends, prioritizes flexibility.

My middle daughter enjoying herself a snow cone full of #'d dyes

Scrunchy Mom is a balance between crunchy and silky. Prioritizing organic food while purchasing online through an app and having it delivered to your front door. Questions medications and prefers homeopathic or holistic over pharmaceuticals but will opt for what works the best in the circumstances. The balance is so important for my sanity. Creating a happy medium that works best for you and your family.

I for sure am a scrunchy mom. A funny example that explains my balance perfectly. My niece asked for Bath-n-Body Works for Christmas. I didn't want to just buy her anything. I also didn't want to buy her something that I knew was harmful for her hormones. I researched how to make her some fancy lotion, body butter, and body spray. I went on Amazon and ordered all of the supplies. Had them delivered to my front door. When I had time I turned my kitchen into a body lotion lab. I made it all and it wasn't that bad.

Homemade soap!

What does scrunchy mom life actually look like?

Here are a few more examples of me being Scrunchy:

• Breastfeeding or Formula? Maybe both! As a scrunchy mom I breastfeed but also supplemented with formula when needed. No guilt, just fed my babies.

• Food Choices I made homemade baby food, but I bought those puppy rice crackers on occasion for my little ones. I choose organic non-GMO as much as possible. We avoid dyes and seed oils as often as possible but will stop by Chick-fil-a to pick up a treat for the kids if we have a day that is extra challenging for them. We opt to raise chickens for eggs and meat. But we sometimes purchase pre-seasoned beef fajita meat from the grocery store.

Our family favorite egg laying chicken - Fluff Fluff!

• Medicine & Remedies I reach for elderberry syrup, colloidal silver, and bee propolis before rushing to the doctor. I allow my kids to have a low grade fever to build their immunity and fight off the bug naturally. If necessary I take them into the doctor and use pharmaceutics. I just first opt for a natural approach.

• Education Choices I homeschool with an accredited curriculum. We go to a weekly co-op.

• Technology I don't allow any screen time. We don't have tablets or phones. I encourage my kids to play outside most of the day. I do allow them to practice typing and we use an old computer to play a game that teaches them to code. I understand the importance of knowing how to use technology but I also understand the dangers of the addition to screens and a sedentary lifestyle. So you won't catch me handing my little one my phone to watch a show or play a game while we wait at soccer for the older ones to finish practice.

Homeschool day!

The best part about being a scrunchy mom is the freedom and flexibility. There’s no judgement or pressure to be crunchy or silky. I am authentically myself and try to incorporate as much of my husband and I's values into our home and our children. Sometimes that looks like just doing what’s best for your family in each season of life. Sometimes that is being strict with no-dyes. Parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all, and what works for one child might not work for another.

At the end of the day, the best parenting style is the one that makes you and your family happy. Whether you're crunchy, silky, or scrunchy, the goal is the same to raise happy, healthy kids. So here’s to all the scrunchy moms out there, finding balance one diaper (cloth or disposable) at a time!