Articles

Here are some articles I've written (section not complete yet), some old and some new. The topics include unschooling, birthing, parenting, traveling, elimination communication, and political issues.

Exercises from a Writing Workshop

Oct 23, 2012

by Sarabeth

Inspired by the words "Sweet Sixteen" and the colors on paint swatches: "acorn squash," "summer squash," "Beach Ball Yellow," "Optimistic Yellow," "Daffodil," "Decisive Yellow" and "Cheerful"

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I've always wanted to write a sort of retrospective memoir, one of those "Back when I was Sweet Sixteen"-kinds of pieces that evoke honeysuckle evenings and vacations by the boardwalk near the sea.

GAPS Resource List

Dec 01, 2010

This is a growing collection of favorite resources relating to the GAPS dietary protocol.

Please send suggestions and additions for this list!

How To Start GAPS

Dec 01, 2010

...or, What I Wish Someone Had Told Me in April 2010
by Sarabeth Matilsky

This is obviously biased by my family's experiences, but I'm hopeful that it will help you as you craft your own, unique health-promoting GAPS diet plan. This article will be updated as needed--please send me suggestions!)

(As of March 2013, I have posted a comprehensive list of How We Eat Now, with lots of recipes: http://www.lifeisapalindrome.com/updates/what-we-eat-recipes )

Saving Sammy: Curing the Boy Who Caught OCD - a book review

Nov 29, 2010

In the summer before sixth grade, Beth Alison Maloney's middle son suddenly began to exhibit severe obsessive-compulsive behaviors. She documents his ensuing multi-year battle with mental illness in her book, “Saving Sammy: Curing the boy who caught OCD.”

The Miraculous Possibility of Hope

Nov 20, 2010

by Sarabeth Matilsky

If you're anything like me, you get really skeptical when someone presents a new miracle cure. This is the sort of necessary skepticism that prevents one from being snake oiled. Especially when you're trying to sort through medical advice, you need a fully-functioning baloney detector.

The Curse of Carbs

Oct 18, 2010

Chronic Disease And Why I Care So Much About Gut Flora: An Opinion Piece for an Industrial Age, by Sarabeth

(To be clear: I am presenting a _summary_ of my recent health and nutrition research. I am not providing sufficient evidence/data to prove to anyone that my opinions are valid. If you're curious about or skeptical of the basis for my conclusions, please read the books and websites I recommend. Then, let me know what _you_ decide.)

Mama Sentimental

May 11, 2010

By the time he's done being two years old, he's not going to fit under my jacket in the baby carrier anymore. I hope at that point Jem will also stop waking up well before the sun, but I'm not putting any money on it. And meanwhile, we have our best talks in the morning, when I've dragged myself out of bed and out the door, and he's snuggled into my chest. He likes when the cars go by ("More come cars!"), when he sees a school bus (a "butt"), and he points every time he sees a mailbox ("my-bock").

Train Watching

May 11, 2010

(Originally published in the March-April issue of "Life Learning" magazine http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/)

We heard the train just after our car began the uphill ascent, away from the train tracks. Ben struggled to hold back real tears, while I struggled not to feel guilty for not turning back into rush hour traffic to see the train. "Do you think," Ben said, between sniffles, "we'll EVER see another train?" Yes, I assured him, I really thought we would.

mommy is Missing a Capital “M”

Sep 01, 2009

Of course I knew there would be a baby. The baby was in the middle of
everything, tiny and oblivious. And then afterward, I knew that she was
perfectly healthy and had dark hair, that she was barely older than my
baby, and that her name was Lila Jen.

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But the first time I heard, my own morning sickness started to feel like
stomach flu. "Aren't you crazy?” I asked. “You're nuts!”

“Yeah, it's crazy. I didn't think we could even _get_ pregnant. The
high-risk OB says I'm the highest-risk case he's seen.”

Little Lila's Mama

Jul 27, 2007

by Sarabeth Matilsky

I had a major big-girl-crush on Jen. She talked about drugs and sex with me like I was an adult, and wore clothes only if they were comfortable. She came up with quick retorts when strangers commented on how thin she was. I knew her kidneys didn't work right. Once she told me, like it was no big deal, “The doctors said I wouldn't live past twenty-one. They don't know anything!” People thought Jen and I were sisters all the time—same dark eyes, dark hair, dark skin, and she _was_ tiny. Sometimes we'd pretend right along with them. Jen loved my family, especially my dad. (Hers left when she was four, and now she said she wanted a new one.)