Holistic Moms Network Offers
Healthy & Green Community for Area Parents

By Paula Chaiken

If you are a parent who believes in “living healthy, living green,” there’s a new group in Northeast Pennsylvania just for you. It is called The Holistic Moms Network (HMN) and it is a non-profit support and resource network for parents interested in holistic health and green living.

The international organization, Holistic Moms Network, was started by mothers in 2003 as a way of increasing awareness of holistic parenting resources and building community among parents who share these ideals.  

The Wyoming Valley Chapter of the Holistic Moms Network was recently started by Kim Murphy and Leanne Hardy. Murphy organized the support group because she felt unsupported in the birth of her second child. She explains, “I needed a community which was raising their children in the same way that I was. I started a Yahoo! Group, but it was too hard to locate. Holistic Moms Network is a national organization. Anyone looking for this support can log on and find us.”

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at the United States Marine Corps Reserve Building at 1118 Wyoming Avenue in Wyoming and will cover topics such as breast feeding, non-toxic living, holistic healing, whole foods, natural childbirth, organic eating, positive discipline, attachment parenting, holistic education, cloth diapering, green living, stress reduction, fighting consumerism, nutrition, and creating balance. Guest experts will be invited to address the group and playgroups and other events are in the works.

Murphy envisions the local chapter as a resource to “help young mothers, young families figure out what’s right for them and give them support. For veteran parents, it’s an opportunity to share their experience.”

The first meeting, held January 7, 2010, included moms from Honesdale to Harveys Lake and the informal discussion was lively. Mothers shared tips and resources. One mother commented that she was happy to meet others with similar values. Another admitted that it feels like she’s doing “everything the hard way.” A mother of a toddler confessed to feeling “lonely and isolated.” Mostly, the parents expressed gratitude to find this new community.

Mothers, fathers, grandparents, other caregivers and those thinking about starting a family are welcome to attend chapter meetings and are invited to become members. Membership costs $45 annually and entitles parents to attend meetings and other local events, participate in the HMN Forum, join the email loop, receive The Wise Mom e-newsletter, and take advantage of special offers from sponsors.

The Holistic Moms Network also has a chapter in the Poconos. For more information about the Holistic Moms Network, log onto holisticmoms.org. For information about the Wyoming Valley Chapter, contact Kim Murphy at 570.287.4765.

Paula Chaiken is the holistic mother of three boys who wishes the HMN were around when her sons were little.