Customer Reviews

Primal Mothering in a Modern World

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I can't say that I agree with everything in the book (what a boring world if we all agreed!) but I love that she puts her children first, follows her mothering instincts, and that she busts the myth that you have to have lots of money and lots of products in order to have healthy, happy children. In my case, she's preaching to the choir, but I found it inspiring. That said, I really was bugged by all the plugs. Every time I saw bold print, I thought "Here we go." I realize she's both trying to make a living and a difference, but to me it messed up the flow of the book - stick a catalog at the end, and leave out the commercials. Still, a very good message - keep your babies close, eat well, and follow your bliss.

I'm an AP'er, homebirther, extended breastfeeder, etc and i thought I'd love this book but i did not! Although I agree with Hygeia's belief that mothers must be with their children, I don't think its the job of the govt to see that this can happen. Its up to us as enterprising parents to make it happen. Taking hand outs is not the example that I want my child to see. She recommends in her chapter on going to a raw food diet fasting your babies!! She suggests that we not feed our babies in order to cleanse their systems!! I was shocked! Its one thing to choose a radical lifestyle for yourself but to impose this on your child, when it may not be the healthiest choice is wrong in my opinion.

This book really turned me off. I found her to be way to proud of what she is doing and rather judgemental in tone towards those who choose differently.

From the moment I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. I take my hat off to Hygeia Halfmoon for stepping out in a world full of dogmatic books and beliefs regarding birth and mothering and sharing her own natural experience. I too am fruitarian, and am so glad to read about another mother and her successful experiences with her children.

i think most of the reviewers have said what i would like to. i like the book, its punchy and has a deep belief in mother-child love and bonding i have rarely read anywhere else, although this is what many mothers feel, (and then feel confused or odd because most of society tells her differently). There were also odd insights that I found resonated strongly with me, again which I hadn't read elsewhere.

on the men and the fruitarian thing. I don't think she was anti-men at all: just realistic about the problems she had had in that area - and, most importantly, not going to let this stop her from loving her children or giving the best start possible. this is simply liberating for single mothers, that someone else out there has done it, without apology. this is very rare, and most books on similar subjects simply assume a primal father is present - it is a rare and welcome counterbalance. thank you!!!

on the fruitarian thing - well its not to my taste, and as another reviewers says, our historic past as humans involves many types of food. but, i just phased out some of the stuff that didn't directly speak to me, and enjoyed the main meal.

Frankly, I was quite UN-impressed. I expected this book to speak to me, as a natural-living, homebirthing, extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping, baby-wearing, attached-mom. I was really hoping to like this book. But I found it hard to even make my way through it. It's one thing to promote primal mothering, to encourage moms to listen to their instincts and know when to blow-off well meaning friends and family that tell you to cry-it-out or encourage you to disconnect from your child. BUT, it's wholly a different story to me when a person encourages families to sacrifice everything else in order to be a "primal mother". In what universe does one make the choice to NOT WORK and NOT PAY RENT because it infringes upon your decision to be a "primal mother". How is that taking BETTER care of your family, and not worse?? How is it OK to live in your car so that you can be a "primal mother"? Join the real world lady...you are being selfish to make your kids homeless just so you can "stay connected" and not work.

I could go on and on about the issues I had, but I had to just put the book down because this woman was so off-base that I couldn't stand to keep reading. She offers no scientific backup for any of the claims she makes either. I am all for instinctual parenting, and I would love it if attachment parenting became the mainstream, but that certainly won't happen when books like this continue to convince the rest of the world that AP is the radical, selfish choice that this book makes it out to be. Check out other books in the API bookstore instead! I recommend Attached at the Heart: 8 Proven Parenting Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children, which is the guidepost for attachment parenting, offering evidence-based parenting advice for raising more compassionate children. Attached at the Heart: 8 Proven Parenting Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children

I agree with most of the concepts that are in this book. I am glad I bought it. I do have a hard time with the attitude of the author in many parts of the book. In her stories she seems to be quick to be offended when someone does not conform to her beliefs and it made it hard for me to push through the book.

Although I cannot relate to Hygeia's erotic childbirth experiences, or her facination with the 12 step plan, I have a great respect for her courage to do what she believes in in the face of intense criticism (and child protective services). Being in a concervative region, reading is the only way to reassure my insticts and not feel like a black sheep. Hygeia celebrates being in full control, reading this book is very empowering. One helpful chapter in this book was her story about her dream to have an unassisted birth, and what she had to endure to achieve it. Important for a woman who is about to have a baby!!

This book touched my soul. It showed me new and wonderful ways to appreciate motherhood. Finally, I have found an author that speaks to my mothering soul. I wish I could give Hygeia Halfmoon a hug and thank her for speaking to my inner spirit. Any mother who is in love with the idea of being a mother should read this book. It is empowering.

I would love to promote this book. The concept of fruitarianism, homeschooling, non-circumcision, non-vaccination, etc., is in perfect alignment with my ministry and with the human race as Nature intended. Unfortunately, however, it comes accross as (ironically) anti-family, anti-male, ˆ la "who needs a damn man to start a family anyway?" This turned me off, and a woman friend of mine agreed. The majority of fatalities among women are at the hands of their domestic partners? Not only is this an outrageous, unsubstantiated claim, but it ignores the fact that the majority of homicide victimes (about 75%) are men, at least half the domestic assault victims are men, etc., and that's not to mention the severely slanted court system that kicks men out of the house, separates him from his children and then forces him to pay child support whether he can afford it or not. This sets men up for false accusations of abuse and creates a false illusion that men are basically abusive dead-beats.

As for any future edition, once the anti-male, anti-family message is cleaned up, I would love to promote the book in a big way. Meanwhile, I'll stick to the Complete Mother magazine.

By the way, I'm 35 years old, not three, but the system only gave me a choice between 1-12.

Rich Angell Overseer The Endowment for the Advancement of Health, Harmony and Integrity

Primal Mothering in a Modern World is a book that I was drawn to during my research about fruitarianism after a reference made to the discipline in The Fifth Dimension by Vera Stanley Alder. I was pregnant with my first child and this book confirmed what I felt deep inside and not just with the fruitarian lifestyle. Hygeia helped me to believe in my intuition and to take my life and the life of my child into my own hands. I was fortunate enough to meet and spend an extended amount of time with the Halfmoon Family in Arizona and on the island of Maui. It was one of the most life changing and powerful experiences of my life. Hygeia's book is a must read for any mother who knows what she feels inside is right, but is getting contradictory input from her environment.