Sunday Surf: Nonviolent Communication

Image from Puddle Dancer Press

It has been awhile since I wrote a Sunday Surf, and I didn’t intend to drop them completely. I won’t return to writing one each Sunday, simply because I’m trying to focus more of my energy on being with my family during the weekends, but if I am so inspired, I will share things here and there.

I’ve been doing a lot of speed reading in my google reader this week, and failing to mark favorite posts because much of my regular blogging time has been taken up with a book discussion. I have been reading through Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marhsall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. with some of my fellow Natural Parents Network volunteers, and I cannot say enough positive things about this book. It is quite possibly the most valuable thing I have ever read.

I could write on and on about the things I have learned from this book so far, but you’ll really want to read it for yourself anyway, so I may as well leave it at that. I will be writing a thorough review following our discussion, which will probably be guest posted over at One Rich Mother anyway. For now, I wanted to share with you that in case you haven’t heard: Dionna of Code Name: Mama and Amy of Peace 4 Parents will be leading a discussion on the book beginning August 1st. These are both women I regard very highly, and I’ve no doubt that any discussion led by them would be a productive one, so I thought I’d write a Sunday Surf just to tell you about it!

I’ll leave you with a quote from the book:

“All violence is the result of people tricking themselves into believing that their pain derives from other people and that consequently those people deserve to be punished.”

Marshall B. Rosenberg in Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

On another note, I about fell out of my chair when I saw that the lovely Cathy of A Montessori Home listed this humble blog as one of her favorites in a lovely interview over at How We Montessori. Cathy is an inspiring Montessori and mother with so much to offer – I definitely recommend visiting her!

Another source of inspiration this week was the July Carnival of Natural Parenting. Unfortunately, I was busy with the Freedom of Cloth carnival and missed the deadline, but I’m still trying to read through some of the gems, like Rachael of The Variegated Life‘s “Not Just Getting Through.”

If you haven’t yet, remember to check out my Freedom of Cloth Giveaways: a OS Pocket Diaper from Linah Sora, EcaPants cloth training pants from EcaWare Baby, and a Wool Prefold Belt from EC Wear.