Lawrence, Kansas

This is a work in progress but I wanted to publish it so that what I have gathered so far can be available.

I often see the question “What are the best places to live for peaceful/natural parents? Which communities are the most supportive?". Rather than typing the same, long, enthusiastic answer every time, I’m going to write about why I love Lawrence, Kansas and just use this link as my answer.

So here, in no particular order, are some reasons Lawrence, Kansas is a great place for a natural mama to live:

Our local craigslist often has quality cloth diapers and baby carriers for sale. Just this week I saw posts selling one-size BumGenius All-in-Ones, One-size Fuzzibunz, Goodmamas, three separate posts for Hotslings, two Mobys, and a Babyhawk. Just this week. There are also always a selection of breast pumps listed on there, and often wooden toys.

Seeing correct babywearing is common. A ring sling here, a Beco there, here a wrap, there a pouch, everywhere an Ergo... I’ve met mamas in stores and in parks, seeing their carriers (or their fluffy-bum’d, amber-wearing babe) as a waving flag saying, “Hey! We have things in common!” Playdates and new friendships have sprouted over such encounters. There is even a local band whose members wear their babies on stage! (I don’t recall their band’s name. If anyone knows, please let me know so I can link to them)

There’s a Lawrence BabyWearers group and the Lawrence Attachment Parenting Discussion group.

I’ve met other babywearers at the dog park even! Speaking of the dog park, (like that segue?) Lawrence has two dog parks. The most popular one is near Clinton Lake and has over 30 acres of fields, woods, paths, and a stream. That’s right, over 30 acres to go hang out with your dog and his buddies without the confines of a leash. There are definitely dog park regulars, and if you go enough you get to know them. I’ve even recognized dog and human duos while walking around town. Our dogs get excited to see each other, recognizing each other as buddies from the dog park.

The other dog park is smaller, I think, but still spacious with woods, fields, and paths. It’s located at the Riverfront Park, and as the name suggests, it runs alongslide the Kansas River.  The Riverfront Park also features one of Lawrence’s two disc golf courses, the other course is located at Centennial Park, which is also where the skate park is. Both disc golf courses have 18 holes and though the Riverfront course is smaller, it’s considered to be more challenging because if the wooded area it winds through.

Lawrence is home to several aquatic centers, including a free-admission wading pool for kids aged six and under at the park on Mass Street. The wading pool is open from June 1- August 6 Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. There is also a large indoor public pool at Freestate High School (which I think is open mostly year-round) and a large outdoor public pool on Kentucky Street by  the Lawrence Public Library.

The Lawrence Public Library hosts a few different storytimes, all of which are free and require no registration. There’s Books and Babies for 8- to 23-month-olds with a half hour of stories, nursery rhymes, fingerplays and songs, Toddler Storytime for two-year-olds features stories, fingerplays, songs, poems, and followup ideas to take home, Library Storytime is for ages three and up and features stories selected around a weekly theme, and told through different formats, such as books, flannel board, clothesline and Big Books. A simple craft follows, based on the theme. Saturday Storytime in Spanish with puppets and songs is for all ages and is, of course, in Spanish. On Sundays there is the Family Storytime which is a half hours of stories followed by a simple craft.

The Lawrence Conscious Parenting Initiative is a “gathering place where families from all backgrounds can go to learn, share and grow in all aspects of conscious parenting.” Check out their website and their Facebook page. And be sure to check out their classes! They talk about Waldorf Education, vaccines, homeschooling, gay parenting, natural childbirth, attachment parenting, politics and parenting, homeopathy, breastfeeding, doulas, living simply, non-violent communication, circumcision, and more!

La Leche League of Lawrence, Kansas


There will soon be an evening breastfeeding group (or it might already have started, I need to check).

(This is where it becomes apparent that this post is a work in progress...)

Doulas:
Madeleine McLaughlin http://yourbirthdoulacare.com/ (I birthed with her - She was wonderful!!!)
Stephanie Olsen http://www.completedoula.com/

Midwives:
Fran Beier
Brenda Frankenfeld
Suzanne Ryan

Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop sells Ergos, the regular and the organic ones
802 Massachusetts Street
(785) 843-5000

The Blue Dandelion sells various carriers and cloth diapers, BabyLegs, and organic clothing
841 Massachusetts Street
(785) 856-8210

Natural foods:
Community Mercantile
http://communitymercantile.com/
(Not just a grocer - there's a whole community there)

The Lawrence Farmers’ Market is well-established and is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in a few different locations

Prairie Moon Waldorf School

Raintree Montessori School

Sunshine Acres Montessori School

Montessori Children's House of Lawrence
1900 University Drive
(785) 843-7577 ‎

Near Lawrence:

Happybottomus
7311 W 91st St
Overland Park, KS 66212
(816) 875-4617

Birth center in Topeka


Also, South Park on Mass Street tends to attract AP/crunchy families. Last time I was there I saw a toddler with a fluffy bum and an amber necklace who was nursing without a cover. Fluffy bums and amber necklaces are common sights there. It's a wonderful park to meet like-minded families!

Lawrence Area Homeschoolers Network

Local music

http://offbeathome.com/2011/06/kansas-punk-apartment


This list is only what I, one person,  know. If you have something to add, leave a comment or e-mail me at mollyuncensored@facebook.com.