There’s a new parenting trend making waves, and it seems to be here to stay—at least until we can convince it otherwise. Meet the Greene family: mom Lucy, dad Jake, and their kids, Oliver (five) and Luna (15 months). They’ve opted for what they call an “off-grid” parenting approach, which is as unconventional as it sounds.
In today’s world, parenting styles are as varied as the number of apps on your phone, and honestly, you don’t really need to keep tabs on them. With your own little ones to care for, feed, and keep from creating chaos, worrying about others’ choices is just a distraction.
Lucy is still breastfeeding her five-year-old—hey, whatever works for you, Lucy! But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. According to Babble, she took things a step further by not separating the placenta or cutting the umbilical cords, keeping them attached until they naturally fell off after six days. “If babies were meant to have their umbilical cords cut at birth, we’d be born with scissors,” she claims. Alrighty then.
Lucy also doesn’t believe in vaccines or modern medicine. “I don’t see any need to inject any foreign substances into their bloodstream. Using plants and herbs targets the bad without harming the good bacteria,” she argues. Things are getting a little strange here. (Honestly, it was already pretty unusual when the placenta was hanging around, but maybe that’s just because I live in a cozy apartment with limited space.)
As you can imagine, I’m trying to take the high road here. While their choices—particularly their refusal to vaccinate—raise some serious concerns, they don’t directly impact my life. And judging by their recent television appearance, they’re in for a challenging journey ahead—especially since their crowdfunding page hasn’t exactly been overflowing with donations.
Oh, did I mention that Lucy and Jake are so dedicated to their self-sufficient lifestyle that they’ve started a “Fund My Travel” page? They’re asking for financial support to help them continue living off the grid. The irony of seeking help while proclaiming their desire for independence is not lost on me.
This off-grid parenting style seems to ignore the usual concerns many parents fret over, like bedtimes, vaccinations, and potty training. Most of this doesn’t affect the rest of us (except, of course, for the potential health risks from their anti-vax stance), and honestly, I’m too busy with my own kids to lose sleep over theirs—unless they’re asking me to foot the bill.
In fact, I might just consider donating a little to their cause, because the sooner they’re off my radar, the better! Their choices are a bit unsettling, and I’d prefer they keep their eccentricities away from my parenting space.
Speaking of which, during a recent appearance on the British show ‘This Morning,’ little Luna made headlines when she decided to skip potty training entirely—right there on live TV. And Lucy and Jake hardly flinched.
Whether you’re a French parent, a Tiger Mom, someone who believes in co-sleeping, or a fan of off-grid living, I think we can all agree that was a bit much.
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In summary, the Greene family’s unconventional parenting style raises eyebrows and sparks debate about the boundaries of parental choices and responsibilities. While their methods may baffle many, it’s clear that this off-grid trend is one we didn’t ask for but are certainly aware of!