These days, it seems like there are nearly as many parenting styles as there are parents. Sure, some may seem a bit more extreme to us than others, but does that make them wrong? People love to argue, and when they feel that their way is the best, they quickly let the world know. Thanks to social media, everyone is up in everyone else's business all the time, and spouting off about what they feel is the perfect way to parent.
Go to TikTok, for example, and you'll see it all there. You have gentle parents and of course, there are the strict moms and dads. There are even what people are calling "scrunchy moms," who fall somewhere in between.
You'll find families that don't allow sleepovers and those that let their kids be free-range. If you continue searching, you'll definitely come across the crunchy crew. One crunchy mom is causing a stir with her nontraditional ways.
Kaytlynn Green is living a green lifestyle.
Katylynn Green, known on TikTok as @the_herbalmama, is parenting her kids how she wants to and doesn't care what other people think. In her videos, she talks about everything from veganism to using herbal medicine and avoiding going to the doctor. The New York Post reported that Green's children Olive, 3, and Felix, 1, do not go to school or see doctors. They don't eat meat, animal products, or processed sugars.
"I practice what's called holistic and respectful parenting, however, people have told me I'm abusive for not allowing them to eat certain foods and tell me I don't deserve to have children," Green told media agency Caters, according to The Post.
Green has based her parenting choices on her own childhood experiences.
Green explained that she was raised in a strict household with seven siblings. She helped to raise the younger children, and decided that she didn't want to be like her parents.
"I changed my discipline values. They shouldn't be hit, shamed or told their opinions don't matter. I don't agree with the whole 'what the parent says' goes," Green said. "I was raised to feel shamed and not voice my opinion, and I don't want my kids to feel like that."
She gave birth to her two children at home and did not receive prenatal care from a doctor, opting for a midwife for her first child and a "free birth" with just her husband for the second.
The family believes in holistic medical care.
Green has several posts on TikTok discussing holistic medicine and what parents can do when their children are sick. This includes a recipe for garlic ear oil that she claims helps with ear infections.
Despite a lot of the hate she receives, she agrees that there are times when modern medicine is necessary, like to treat things such as diabetes. But Green is definitely against vaccination and circumcision. She also alludes to a belief that it is OK to use marijuana during pregnancy.
Green is a strictly vegan mama.
Unsurprisingly, a healthy diet is a huge part of Green's parenting style. She has chosen an organic and vegan diet. Her grocery hauls fascinate followers with what she buys and the cost.
One of her videos shows her daughter choosing a toothpaste that is nearly $7 a tube and floss that is almost $5. Being "crunchy," as she calls herself, is evidently a spendy lifestyle, that would be inaccessible to many.
Green is a fierce defender of her community.
Many of her fans support her crunchy lifestyle, but Green has also caught plenty of flak. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes, despite what others say. She strives to respect others and hopes to get respect in return. It is hard to argue with that.
Everyone can agree on one thing: Parents need to make sure their children are safe and healthy.
Thankfully, even though she practices mostly holistic medicine, Green mentions in several videos that she would not avoid modern medicine to intervene if she or her family needed it.
Sadly, other parents have not been as wise, and their choices resulted in tragedy. Last year, authorities charged a Pennsylvania couple with manslaughter after giving their dying infant herbs and teas instead of calling 911, reportedly resulting in his death.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
