What the heck does "crunchy" mean?

So, what exactly does it mean to be "crunchy"?

It includes a wide variety of parenting and lifestyle choices. Some people are definitely crunchier than others. I'm not, like, super-crunchy, but I've got a definite crunch going on. In my mind, parenting is all about doing what is best for you and your family, and that includes factoring in convenience and your comfort zone.

Cute little Peanut modeling her new "pwetty" diaper.

Here are some "crunchy" parenting choices:

• attachment parenting
• co-sleeping
• babywearing
• cloth diapering
• elimination communication
• "natural" unmedicated childbirth
• home birth
• water birth
• delayed cord clamping/lotus birth
• breastfeeding/extended breastfeeding
• delayed/selective vaccination/no vaccination
• holistic/alternative medicine
• vegetarian/vegan diet
• homeschooling/unschooling
• natural products/toxin/plastic free
• peaceful parenting/no cry-it-out/spanking
• midwife care
• no circumcision

I'm sure there are plenty more factors in crunchy parenting. We don't practice nearly all of these, but they're all valid parenting choices, just as the more..jello? parenting choices are. (What's the opposite of crunchy?)

I'm going to go ahead and add a disclaimer here and get it over with. So...

Disclaimer: I am not claiming that one parenting style is more valid than another. I'm not trying to start arguments. This whole blog is about what works for me and my family, and my journey further into the crunchy world.