Author: MotherWise

Hello Wise Mamas! I am Kristen Tea; I’m a 30-year-old happily married, attachment parenting, unschooling, home-birthing, work-at-home mother of two boys. I was a single mother to my first son for four years, until I married my best friend in November 2013. I am passionate about many things: social justice, human rights, equality, peaceful parenting, healthy living, music, art, literature. I try to help people however I am able, and I believe that making conscious, fully informed parenting choices has the power to change the world. Thank you for being part of my MotherWise community!

14 Harsh Truths All New Moms Need To Know

Posted on September 19, 2017September 21, 2017 by MotherWise

Originally published at Mothering.com Congratulations! You just had a baby. Holy crap! It's intense isn't it? Here are 14 harsh realities about new motherhood. 1. Your body will change. New mom, you just carried a human in your body...Read More

Kate Hudson Called Her C-Section “Lazy.” Here’s Why That’s Okay.

Posted on September 19, 2017 by MotherWise

Actress Kate Hudson recently stated the laziest thing she's ever done was get a c-section. Here's why that's ok. In an interview for the October issue of Cosmopolitan, actress, athletic wear designer, and mother Kate Hudson answered a list of...Read More

Teething Pain: 8 Natural, Soothing Options

Posted on September 9, 2017September 10, 2017 by MotherWise

Written by Crystal of Owl Heart These easy, at-home remedies for teething pain will please any natural mama. Teething has begun. Sleep schedules are thrown off; night-waking and unusual fussiness may occur. Every child teethes differently; some very peacefully and...Read More

10 Ways to Stop a (Grown Up!) Temper Tantrum

Posted on September 6, 2017November 29, 2018 by MotherWise

Tantrums aren't just for kids -- parents are prone to them too. If you've ever had a long day, felt overtired, over-hungry, just over it and on the verge of a meltdown, these tips are for you. Dealing with the...Read More

8 Things Attachment Parenting is NOT

Posted on September 5, 2017September 5, 2017 by MotherWise

Originally published at Mothering.com Attachment Parenting has proven benefits, but it's often stereotyped as a great way to "spoil" children. It's important to know what Attachment Parenting is, and what it isn't. A few years ago, when my now 9-year-old was...Read More

Please Don’t Force Your Kid To Share With Mine

Posted on September 4, 2017September 4, 2017 by MotherWise

Originally published at Mothering.com Making kids share is often considered "good parenting." But is it really? Not necessarily. If you've ever been at a play date or in a public play place, you've witnessed the inevitable -- two kids tussling...Read More

No Lesson Plan, No Homework- Why I'm Unschooling My Kids

No Homework, No Lesson Plan: Why I’m ‘Unschooling’ My Kids

Posted on August 31, 2017October 11, 2017 by MotherWise

I vividly remember the moment I decided to unschool. I had a toddler, and I'd decided to go back to school, so I used the Early Education center on my college campus. My child was sixteen-months-old when he started attending,...Read More

5 Reasons White Women Should Support Black Breastfeeding Week

Posted on August 28, 2017August 29, 2017 by MotherWise

It's Black Breastfeeding Week. And that seems to cause a lot of ~feelings~ for white women. Every year, Black Breastfeeding Week celebrates the different lived experiences of black women, and highlights the racial disparities in breastfeeding support which impact infant...Read More

10 Reasons Why A Big Age Gap Between Kids Is A Wise Idea

Posted on August 26, 2017August 27, 2017 by MotherWise

Originally published at Mothering.com Age gaps between children: It’s something many parents weigh carefully as we plan our families. How many kids should we have? Should we have them close together? Should we have them far apart? The reality is...Read More

Trump Just Pardoned Notorious Racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio

5 Horrible Facts About The Notoriously Racist Sheriff Pardoned By Trump

Posted on August 26, 2017September 3, 2017 by MotherWise

In a move which firmly cements his reputation as a white supremacist, Donald Trump has pardoned controversial ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio of his criminal contempt charges. Joe Arpaio was sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, from 1993 to 2016. His time in that...Read More