Second siblings and their sicknesses!

It is wonderful to have two children and to watch my oldest daughter play with my youngest son is priceless.  There is nothing more amazing then watching them as siblings.  However, one of the challenges with siblings, is trying to keep the youngest sibling from getting sick.  My daughter did not get her first cold, ear infection until she was 18 months old which I credit to breastfeeding, diet, washing hands and what we exposed her to but my 8 month old son, is not so lucky.

Now I do all the same things with my son that I did with my daughter but your second baby is exposed to many more germs because of their older sibling.  I cannot prevent my daughter from playing at the park or playing with friends or going to ballet class or telling her she cannot kiss and love her baby brother but even if I wash her hands and mine all the time, germs are going to come to our house!  So when Joaquin was 2 months old, Tallulah got the mildest cold but Joaquin got his first cold and ear infection.  The first time I treated it with antibiotics out of panic but then it went into his other ear and they wanted to put him on another round of antibiotics.  I was surprised because he seemed fine and had no fever or anything.  I would have never known if it was not for his check up at the doctor.  I decided to follow my instinct and treat it with Garlic Mullen drops first and if he started to get fussy or a fever then I would put him on the antibiotics.

Well a week later, we went to his check up and the ear infection was gone.  I was so proud of myself and that I did what I thought made sense based on the situation.  I have used those Garlic Mullen drops before and they are awesome.  Tallulah had a few ear infections but most were controlled by the drops and acupuncture.

Now, my son is 8 months old and I am in the same spot.  My daughter had a two day cold and now my poor son has a double ear infection.  I debated on what steps I wanted to take but his fever was rising and he was so miserable, that my husband and I decided that antibiotics was the right way to go for this treatment, along with the Garlic Mullen drops.

These decisions as a natural mama are very hard to do.  I hate putting him on antibiotics at such a young age but you always have to evaluate the situation and decide what feels best for your child.  For me, putting Joaquin on the antibiotics was the right choice.  Just 24 hours later, he has no fever, no thick mucus out of his nose and mouth and is sleeping happily in his bed.

Just remember, being a mom is always hard and these decisions are the hardest but just follow what you think it right and you will do good by your children.

Picture from Dr. Estella Sneider

Breastfeeding is so important but when do you let it go?

I have been very fortunate to have been given the gift of plenty of milk for both of my children and breastfeeding is one of my favorite things to share with my son and previously with my daughter.   However, I know many moms struggle with trying to keep up their milk supply or postpartum stresses or other things that make breastfeeding challenging. So my question is when do you let it go and realize it is ok to stop?

My answer to that is follow your intuition  As a mom, that is your best guide to all decisions you make for your child.  Breastfeeding should never be a stressful task or one that makes you an emotional mess.  You should not find yourself trying to pump any last drop out if it is making you crazy.  That will just make you and your milk supply worse.

Any breastfeeding you can do with your baby is amazing and that is what should be embraced.  Yes, formula is not the greatest thing on earth but it is not the worst either.  I was not breastfed and I am one strong mama.  I was one of those babies that was born when formula was the next big thing so they loved pushing it on my little preemie body!  But I was fine, just like many other babies are fine and your baby would be fine as well.

My advice is always do what you can. I for sure think you should breastfeed but only to the point of happiness, not misery.  Some woman have it easy with crazy milk supply like me and some struggle to produce even an oz but not matter what you do, remember that even if you breastfeed for a day, you did something great for your baby.

Moms should never beat themselves up about the decision to finally stop breastfeeding if it has become a struggle and it not successful anymore.

So just remember, as a Mom, your body will tell you when it is time to let go. Follow your intuition.  It knows best.

How to Pick a Pediatrician You Love

My Children, Tallulah and Joaquin

As any mama knows, picking a pediatrician is very hard to do especially when you are a natural focused mama.  It is even harder when you have decided not to vaccinate your children.  I really liked this recent article on suggestions and tips on how to pick your pediatrician.  It is ironic that I read this today because I had a very disappointing experience today with a pediatrician.  We were not able to see our family pediatrician today so I opted for a newer doctor with the practice.

While I understand and respect the Doctor's right to give me his two cents on why he thinks it is importance to vaccinate, I do not respect the Doctor's inability to know when enough is enough.  The Doctor continued to mention all the "dangers" that may come to my children by not vaccinating them.  The frustrating thing always about these situations, is that the Doctor never asks me why I do not vaccinate.  Instead of respecting my role as a parent, they seem to feel it is more important to try and instill fear on to me with hope that will make me vaccinate my children.  They would be more successful if they would decide to have a dialogue about vaccinations with me, instead of preaching at me.

Anyway, we love our pediatrician. Yes, he believes in vaccinations but he also respects our choices as parents and acknowledges that we are great parents that clearly provide a home full of love, confidence and security. While we may disagree at time with him, he is always supportive of our decision as parents.

Check this list out.  It may help you on your journey to pick a pediatrician.

Here is a link to the article as well: Inhabitots Guide to Picking a Pediatrician


1. Make a list, check it twice
Buy a notebook, and on the first page, write down the areas of new parenthood which are of the greatest concern and interest to you. Co-sleeping, Breastfeeding, Alternative Immunization Schedule, Diet (vegan/vegetarian), Homeopathic remedies, Babywearing, etc. You will want to find a pediatrician who is on the same page as you with regard to your parenting style. For instance, many pediatricians are proponents of attachment parenting and are helpful in encouraging you to stand by your choices while on the road less traveled. Since sleeping and eating will (hopefully) be your baby’s two biggest areas of concern, find a doc who supports your plans to co-sleep, feed a vegan diet, etc.

2. Be a detective & take notes
Most pediatricians are willing to meet with parents for an informal interview/Q&A session. Take your notebook to every meeting you schedule and write notes including your likes/dislikes of each pediatrician with whom you meet. Also, arrive early for your consultation and get the general vibe for how the office runs. Is the staff accommodating and helpful? Does the doctor seem to authentically like his/her job and working with children? Does the office have separate entrances for sick and well child visits? Be sure to ask what the doctor’s on-call policy is, and make sure a doctor (whether it be your pediatrician or someone in their practice) is available to be paged 24 hours a day in the event you need them.

3. Location, Location, Location
The adage doesn’t just apply to real estate — you want to be located as close in proximity to your pediatrician’s office as possible. If  traffic congestion is an issue in your city, this can add considerable time to your journey — and if your child is sick, you don’t want to drag them on a road trip in addition to having to take them to the doctor. Also, during your newborn’s first year of life, you will be making frequent visits for weight checks, immunizations, etc., so you’ll want the commute to be convenient.

4. Make sure the pediatrician is covered by your insurance
Call your insurance plan to ensure that the pediatrician you’re interested in is indeed a provider on your plan. Get the lowdown on how many visits are covered, and find out whether you have to pay a co-pay for nurse visits in which you’re only visiting for immunizations. *Note: We opted for an alternative vaccination schedule in which we had to make more frequent visits to divide the number of shots administered per visit. Turns out, we didn’t need to pay a co-pay for visits exclusively to administer vaccinations.

5. Heed word of mouth and the internet
Google the name of the pediatrician you’re interested in, and you’re sure to uncover more information about them via experiences had by other parents. Additionally, local community online parenting sites and parenting networks often give referrals or steer clear warnings of doctors based on their personal experiences. If you have friends with children, ask them who their pediatricians are, and if they are happy with the practice. The saying “it takes a village” exists for a reason… reach out to other parents on your search.

6. Take the pediatrician’s gender into account
If you plan on building a long-lasting relationship with your pediatrician, their gender may be a factor to consider. Most children see their pediatrician until they turn 18, so if you think that down the road your boy or girl may be more comfortable seeing a doctor of their same sex during adolescence, choose accordingly.

7. Go with your gut
Listen to your intuition. If you walk into a pediatrician’s office and feel at ease in the surroundings, with the doctor’s bedside manner and the rapport between you, that’s great — but if you feel uncomfortable, like you’re being rushed, or that the environment is unsavory in any way, move on and keep searching. You will be discussing a wide range of emotional issues with your baby’s doctor, from poop to boobs to crying (you and the baby!), and you’ll need to feel like you can call them at 2am if the situation warrants it. So choose wisely!

Smart Snacks in Schools

USDA seeking public comments on new "smart snacks in school" program

As my daughter, Tallulah gets closer to starting preschool, I find myself already thinking about snacks or foods she may be offered. I am amazed at some of the "healthy snacks" that are marketed towards kids and parents. Since I used to work for a natural foods company that was owned by a mainstream food company, I often saw some of the ridiculous snacks that were being created for kids as "healthy".
It seems there is always a fight to get better foods in schools. It is a huge problem that schools are offering things like soda and vending machines. 

Check this out and send them your thoughts. You can make a difference with your voice.


USDA seeking public comments on new "smart snacks in school" program

Hold Them Close

Today I heard a heart breaking story of a woman who lost her baby the week before it was due. While I feel I need to keep the details private, the story brought tears to my eyes and actually made my heart hurt.

Anyone would find this story tragic but those of you that have shared in the joy of giving birth to your child know how unimaginable this would be to experience. I find myself sick to my stomach when I think about this poor baby and this grieving mother. How does one even begin to heal from this?
Tears come to my eyes as I look at my four month old son sleeping next to me and think of my beautiful two and a half year old daughter. Every day is a gift with your children. I am lucky to be able to be with them everyday.  Being a mother, who stays at home, is priceless.  I am grateful that I get to participate in my children's daily lives.  All the park visits, the trips to the aquarium, bath days, times when they are happy, times when they are sad.  All of it is so valuable and I would not want to change it for anything.

I pray for healing for this mother and her family's unforgettable loss.

I give thanks for my amazing family and the love that I have.

Love your children every day.

Proud To Be A Mama!

Tallulah at Ballet

I often have many moments as a mama when I find I am laughing to myself because I am having a "mama" moment.  "Mama" moments are those moments when you cannot believe you are actually in the middle of doing something like wearing your breastfriend pillow while feeding your 4 month old and being thankful that it straps on and you can hold your baby in place because you have to be able to wipe your recently potty trained toddler's poop buns and then manage to wash their hands as well as your own and be able to go back to feeding. 

All mamas know those moments I am talking about.  Well, today was another one of those moments but this one was a very proud "mama" moment.  One of those moments where you feel very connected to all the mamas around you because you realize that all us are trying to accomplish the same thing.  We are all trying to give our children everything we can so they grow up to be happy, loved, well rounded individuals.

Today, my daughter Tallulah had ballet class at the local YMCA.  The YMCA is a place where there are many mamas like me, who are there taking their child or children to class.  Just like me, many of them are wearing one baby in a carrier while chasing after another on the playground.  It is always hectic!  After class, my daughter, Tallulah said she had to go potty.  We were already at the car so we decided she would go in her little portable potty, which she loves.  So I set her up in the back seat with her potty, just like she likes it and she hung out for a bit while she went "pee and poo", as she calls it.  Meanwhile, my 4 month old son, Joaquin, is in his car seat and ready to go home because he is hungry and tired.  At this point, I am also hungry, tired and have to go the bathroom but all those things are sacrificed in order to make sure my children are taken care of.  My daugther is then finished, I clean her up, put the potty away and get her loaded in to her car seat so we can all go home for lunch. 
Once, we are all in the car, I back out of my parking spot and proceed to drive away.  As I drive away, I pass a mom who is changing her baby's diaper in the back of her car, then another mom, changing her toddler son out of his bathing suit while her baby is waiting in it's stroller, then another mom who had one child in the back of the car, sitting and eating a snack, while she changed her baby's diaper and her oldest stood by the car listening to their Ipod.  This actually went on and on.  There were two other moms beyond this group of moms, all doing the same thing.  I began to smile and then laugh to myself but then a sense of pride came over me.  I was proud to be a mama and a good one at that and was proud to be in the company of all these other wonderful mamas, who were doing the same thing  as I was.
As mamas, we are all taking it one day at a time and we often sacrifice ourselves for the sake of our children.  At times, it is so tiring and so hard but it is so worth it.  Today was a reminder of that for me and also a reminder that as a mama, you are never alone.  So next time you are out and about, running to the grocery store or at the park, remember that there is always a mama next to that is just like you.

My Personal Voice

Hello to all my amazing readers!  Some of you are mamas, some of you are mamas to be and some of you are mamas to come.  So often, I run into someone that thanks me for my blog.  I often feel embarrassed since I have barely kept up with it since it is hard to find the time with being at home with two children.  However, I realize how often I have thoughts  of things I would like to share to everyone so I have decided to try and make some time in the evenings a couple times a week so I can share on my blog.  I am lucky to have readers that are interested in hearing my voice so I want to make sure I share as often as I can.  Everyone says the way to have a successful blog, is to have a personal voice. I want to start sharing stories about my life as a mama along with interesting things I find.  I hope you like my posts to come. Feel free to reach out to me at naturalmommysd@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram @naturalmama.

Here is my family. My husband Aaron, Tallulah, 2 and a half and Joaquin, 4 months.

Barbie's Home Birth

Look at how amazing Barbie is with her home birth.  I thought this was pretty funny especially since I am 39 weeks pregnant.  However, I do feel Barbie's maternity outfit might be a bit dated!

Barbie's home birth

Oral Sex: A New Cure for Morning Sickness

This is a very interesting study.  Since I am 8 months pregnant, I no longer have morning sickness so I cannot say I have put it to the test.

Of course, what pregnant women is interested in oral sex when they feel like they are going to throw up all the time! If you do try it, make sure it is the father of your baby! 

Either way, interesting to read.

Oral Sex: A New Cure for Morning Sickness

Johnson and Johnson removing chemicals!

This is great news for the mainstream world of baby products.  Johnson and Johnson has vowed to remove toxic chemcials from their products.  I will still contiuue to support my favorite natural brands like California Baby or Earth Mama Angel Baby but this is still a huge step for the baby care world.

Check it out!! 

Johnson & Johnson has announced plans remove “chemicals of concern” from its baby products by 2013.

Wow, it has been a long time! Let's talk discipline!

The last time I posted on my blog was February, right before I found out I was pregnant with our little boy Joaquin, who is due in October.  It has been busy but I need to get back on track and start posting once a week!

I am going to start with this great article that I received today.  Discipline is always a hard subject when it come to your child and we have really tried to do our best to communicate Tallulah about her behavior and listen to her in her times of need etc.  We have done a few time outs in the past by putting her in her crib but we have not done that in awhile and instead of tried to talk to her and understand why she is upset.  With a two year old that is often easy to do because it is usually because they are tired, hungry, over stimulated or just frustrated because they are not in control of a situation.  After reading this article, I totally agree with it and we will continue on our path of just trying to understand our little girl, instead of isolating her or punishing her.  Honestly, it has been very successful for her and us.  Since our daughter's birth, we have always tried to listen and understand what she might be communicating to us and I think that is the key to success.

Trust me, I know we all can get frustrated and the easy way out is to punish our children but if you step back and think for a moment and look at things through their eyes, you may feel differently about your approach.  Please read this article, it really is wonderful and will make your think a bit about how your handle your next situation.

Cheers!
Alicia

Why a time out is just as damaging as spanking

My Top Items to Have on Hand for a Sick Baby or Toddler

When you are sick as an adult, it is easy to get in the car and go pick up cough medicine etc. but when you have a sick child, you want to have everything you might need right at your fingertips.  Here are my favorite things to have on hand because they really do help when your little one gets sick. Remember, I am not a doctor, just a natural mama.  Always consult your pediatrician before giving your child any medicines.

Tylenol and Ibuprofen
Yes, I know these are not natural but you will learn quickly, that being a natural parent often requires the acceptance of traditional medicines.  There is no denying that if your child has a fever that Tylenol and Ibuprofen can bring it down fast.

Old Indian Syrup for Kids
This stuff is great for kids and adults.  It really helps break up the mucus when they have a yucky cough.  I use the one by Plantery Herbals.

Honey
Great for a cough but not for children under 1.  They should not have honey.

Hyland's C Plus Cold Tablets
 These are nice because you can give them to children under 2.  Many homeopathic medicines are for 2 and up so these are great.

Coldcalm by Borion
 We use the adult version of Coldcalm for ourselves and it is amazing.  You cannot use it until children are 3 years of age but I heard it works wonders.

Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator
 This is so much better then the bulb aspirator.

Saline Nasal Spray
A must have for sticky booger noses.

Bach Flower Remedy
Again, another great item for adults as well as children for those stressful days.

Boiron Camilia Teething Relieff
 I love these because they are in a liquid form.

Gaia Kids Defense Herbal Drops
These are just nice to have if you are going to be traveling or think your child may be exposed to a lot of germs etc.  Just add a few drops to water.

I hope this list helps you out in preparation for your next sick days.  I just had my first round of a sick toddler so I was glad I discovered some of these items.  Remember, you can get most of these items on www.diapers.com and they will deliver next day if you spend $25.  I swear by it!

Great Webinar coming up on Valentine's Day

Kiwi Webinar: GMOs: What They are and Why You Have a Right to Know

The Art of Hurrying

One thing I have learned as a stay at home mama, is what I call "the art of hurrying".  These are tips that I think are helpful for moms because we all know how it feels to be hurrying in the shower, hurrying to eat breakfast, hurrying to brush your teeth etc.  These are my tips for new mamas.

Teach your baby to love their crib

From a very early age, we taught Tallulah to love her crib.  After every diaper change, or in between clothing changes or whatever it might have been, we would put her in her crib for just a few minutes.  This would allow her time to play for a bit in her crib and enjoy hanging out.  This has come in handy as she as gotten older.  I have put her in her crib for times when I had to use the bathroom, vacuuming, laundry and showering.  I always have the monitor with me, in case I need to check on her.  This is a great thing to do but remember, keep it short like 15-20 minutes once they are older.  

Keep the routine predictable

Every day, Tallulah knows that when we are getting dressed that she will hang out in her crib while mama takes a quick shower.  She knows that she gets dressed, brushes her teeth and then mama showers and does the same.  The other important thing is that Tallulah knows that after doing this time in her crib that a fun activity like going to the park or the aquarium follows next.

Books and books

Read to your babies!  We have read to Tallulah since she was very little and now she can hang out in her crib and look at books while I shower and get dressed. She also looks at books when she wakes up in the morning which gives me an extra 20-30 minutes in the morning.

Plan ahead

If you know you are going somewhere that will require you to take a snack, lunch or an extra pair of clothes, pack your bag the night before or at least pack your bag mentally.  Prep snacks ahead of time. Use a fun snack cup that is easy to travel with.  Keep an extra pair of clothes, diapers, wipes and plastic bag in the car for random messes. Do not forget snacks for yourself. I love Clif bars, they are super yummy, have good protein and easy to pack!

Surprise toys

Always have secret toys that are only played with for special circumstances, like if you are in a hurry and need a special toy to entertain your little one or you are going to a lunch with friends or going for a longer drive then usual. 

Keep your routine simple

Keep your hair, make up and outfits simple. Plan your outfit out ahead.  If you know it is going to be a busy day, shower the night before if you have shave, wash your hair etc.  You can still look amazing while keeping it simple.

Take time for yourself

Make sure to take time for yourself.  Maybe find a mom that you can trade time with so you can both go to yoga or pilates and alternate watching each others children.  Or find time, to have a cup of tea but use really good tea. Treat yourself to one yummy thing a day, so good tea, good coffee or good chocolate, whatever your "yummy" thing is.

These are all things that make my daily routine a lot easier and bring ease to not only my day but also to my child's day.  I hope they work for you!

My Advice on Weaning

It has been a week since I weaned Tallulah off from breast feeding. She was a little over 18 months old. I really wanted to keep doing it but I decided it would be better to wean her off before I get pregnant again. I did not like the idea of being super nauseous and still breast feeding. I am going to be honest, I really miss it. I still have milk and sometimes think about giving it to her again but realize that would not be beneficial to her or myself.

I am so thankful that I was able to breast feed for as long as I wanted. I was able to keep my milk supply while pumping at work and then once I became a stay home mom. So many women ask about weaning off advice so I thought I would share mine.

1. If you can, breast feed for as long as you can. Tallulah has only had a few brief colds and they were while she was teething and I believe breast feeding plays a huge role in that.

2. When you are ready to wean, start by taking the mid day feeding away first, then go down to just morning and night, finally eliminate the morning and just go down to the night feeding. I kept up with the night feeding for about three months which gave Tallulah plenty of time to adjust. Once I was ready to wean her off, I started explaining to her that soon we were going to have just cuddle time with mama and no more milk. I explained that she was becoming a big girl and did not need mama's milk anymore. This is the benefit of breast feeding for so long. By the time I was ready to wean, Tallulah was old enough to understand.

3. Just stick to it and create a secure feeling for your baby as they go through this transition. Cuddle with them, read with them, just make sure they know that you are there for them and that you are empathetic for how they feel.

This last week has been pretty smooth. She does ask for milk for a moment at bedtime but forgets about it, once we start cuddle and story time with mama and papa, she is super content.

I think it is harder on the mama emotionally then the child. :)

The Vaccine Decision Starts Here

As a parent, in particular a natural focused parent, I think vaccinations are one of the hardest decisions you make for your baby/child.  We decided not to vaccinate our daughter and she is now 18 months old.  We just felt that pumping that much of anything into a new little body did not make sense.  It just did not feel right to us as parents.  Tallulah has never been sick except two brief one day colds and she was teething at the time and she has progressed in all areas of growth and is a very strong and happy little girl.  We do believe that not vaccinating her plays a part in that.  Now of course, until we have a second baby and do all the same things with it, we will not know if we are right but regardless, we feel very confident in our choice.

Here is a great resource for helping you make a decision on vaccinations.  It is not biased.  It really does give you all kinds of information and it is a great forum to hear others thoughts and decisions.
I hope it helps you.

Mothering Community-The vaccine decision starts here

Yikes: Most Parents Use Carseats Incorrectly!

Recently, I have noticed some people having their toddlers ride front facing in their car seat earlier then recommended. It makes me wonder if they are just not educated on the new recommendations. I know some people that think it is silly but it makes me think of this picture I saw of a tiny little girl who was rear facing way too early. She was one years old but was way too small to be rear facing. Please read this great article and think about your choices when it comes to the car seat.

Thanks!

Yikes: Most Parents Use Carseats Incorrectly!

A Recipe for Fudgy Black Bean Brownies | Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen

Yummy Black Bean Brownies from Cooking with Moms

This recipe looks amazing. We have not given any chocolate to our 18 month old but when we do, I think this is a great find! I am going to try and make them in the next week or two and report back to you all.

This is also a fun blog to follow if you like fun and healthy recipes.

A Recipe for Fudgy Black Bean Brownies | Meal Makeover Moms' Kitchen

Petition Against Arsenic in Apple Juice

 Hi everyone, 

I am sure you are aware of the arsenic that is being found in apple juice.  Apple juice is the top juice drank by children.  Please see the letter below and sign the petition.  Make sure you buy organic juice or make your own juices at home! Better yet, just stick to water.

Every child enjoys a juice box with her after school snack. But what parents don’t know is that a disturbing number of juices contain unsafe levels of lead and inorganic arsenic that can lead to serious health problems for children.

While the government has rules in place to limit lead and arsenic in our drinking water, there’s nothing to stop companies from making juices and other children’s drinks that contain unsafe levels of those poisons. A new study by Consumer Reports found that at least 10% of apple and grape juices sampled had more arsenic than what the government says is safe for drinking water -- and even more had unsafe levels of lead.

Now it’s up to the Food and Drug Administration to make rules to regulate how much arsenic and lead can be in juices, like they do for drinking water. Click here to sign the petition asking the FDA to protect children from poisons by regulating arsenic levels in juices.

While not lethal, that kind of sustained, low-level exposure during early childhood "carries the most serious long-term risk," according to researchers. The dangerous effects of unsafe levels of inorganic arsenic and lead in children are shocking:

• Inorganic arsenic is linked to cancers, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and immune system problems
• Children exposed to drinking water with unsafe arsenic levels had decreased intellectual function
• Low-level arsenic exposure is "significantly related to poorer scores in language, visuospatial skills, processing speed, and immediate memory," among other problems
• Unsafe levels of lead were found in 25% of juices sampled, and lead exposure is linked to brain development and behavioral problems

If lead and arsenic are unsafe for children in their drinking water, the same poisons should be regulated for the juices that so many children love.

Click here to sign the petition on Change.org asking the FDA to protect children from unsafe levels of arsenic in juices.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

- Michael and the Change.org team

Family Friendly Green Volunteer Projects for the Holidays

I cannot believe it has been a month since I last posted!  Time goes by so fast but that is what happens when you are enjoying every moment being a home with your child! So many people ask me for recommendations on ways to give back during the holidays.  Here is a great post from Inhabitots.  Fun ways to give back with your family.  It is never too early to teach your children the meaning of sharing their heart and giving back to others.  Happy Holidays!

Family Friendly Green Volunteer Projects for the Holidays