Mother and Child: Visions of Parenting from Indigenous Cultures

by Jan Reynolds

Mothers shape the world in which we live through the love and guidence they give their children. Award-winning journalist and photographer Jan Reynolds explored the mother/child relationship through seven stages of life--marriage, pregnancy, birth, infancy, toddling, independence, and adolescence--while living with women in the Himalaya, the Sahara, the Aboriginal Outback, the Amazon Territory, above the Arctic Circle, and Mongolia. Reynolds was struck by the special relationship of these women and children and their deep connection with the natural environment. Her stories and photographs chronicle the ancient art of mothering and describe ways mothers in the modern world can incorporate these indigenous methods into their own lives.

Genres: Parenting

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep meaning to finish this one -- it's interesting, but it's written a little goofy for me. Kind of aahh-aaahh-aahh--we are all one--aaahhh. That said, I think the author is sincere, and I do appreciate her perspective from having traveled extensively and befriended parents and children all over the world. I always appreciate a new viewpoint on parenting culture and how what we consider the "right" way to do things is usually just a limited cultural construct.

[Jen]

I liked this book a lot, especially the section on independence. I did think that the book was overly preachy about the benefits of attachment parenting, since I already practiced home birth, breastfeeding, baby-wearing, etc., and was looking for more insight rather than reiterating what I already knew. My kids and I really enjoyed looking at the pictures, though, and I'm glad I read it. It was a really, really fast read.

[Yvette]

A lovely, simple photo-based book looking at mothering in indigenous cultures. Once again illustrating how much "modern" society has unlearned. Beautiful photos.