It has been some time since I have put pencil to paper so I thought a good place to start would be to re-introduce myself. ?Some of you would know me through my previous editorials in our print magazine, Natural Parenting.? Others would have chatted with me through our online forum.? A few of you would know me in person.? So to give those who don?t know me some idea of life behind the scenes this is a bit about me and the journey of Natural Parenting.

My name is Susan Stark and I am the editor of Natural Family Publishing. I am also mother to three beautiful children, Harrison (8 years) and Baxter (4 year) and Mala (6 months. ?I live and work in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with my husband Steve.?

The evolution of Natural Family Publishing began with our publication Natural Parenting Magazine - a print magazine that offered informative articles, great photography and heaps of resources for parents seeking to raise their children as consciously as possible.

The creation and publication of this magazine was an amazing journey for me.? It evolved and grew around my family and led me places I never imagined.? It took on its own life and basically showed me where it needed to go.? It became a creative outlet for me that allowed me to meet my needs for flexibility, creativity and contribution. Prior to parenting and publishing I worked in Human Services and coordinated a community organisation for homeless young women. I also worked prior to that in the child care industry.? As you can see I enjoy reinventing myself and taking up new challenges.? A good pre-requisite for parenting!

The magazine was a reflection of our twists and turns, our celebrations and achievements.? As the parent of young children I know what information and support had been and is useful to us and attempted to encapsulate this in our publication and website.

What I didn?t expect when we started this journey was the ground swell of support ? the community that grew around us and continues to thrive to this day.? We have many dedicated followers all across the globe and continue to expand our reach through our online presence.?

After a number of years of publishing in print we came to the difficult decision to discontinue our magazine and put all our energy online.? Natural Parenting Magazine then became Natural Family Publishing.? We are now one of this country?s leaders in providing quality information and support to families across the world.?

When I reflect back to our humble beginning and the hobby that was meant to be my own personal muse, I am at times shocked at how much we have grown and how broad our scope now is.? I am humbled at people?s trust in me to share their personal stories with others and excited at the prospect of ensuring parents have access to a range of perspectives as they tackle great challenges and difficult decisions. ?I am honoured to have worked with and met many inspiring people who work tirelessly to support parents and children.?

Like parenting, the evolution of my business has been a journey of personal discovery and new learning.? As I have nurtured this ?baby? I have made many mistakes as I navigated unknown territory and have been forced to stretch beyond my comfort zone.? Like my children, it has been a forgiving task master and taught me to honour the journey as much as the destination and trust the natural unfolding that surely comes with letting go.
So from one parent to another, I warmly welcome you.? May we learn and grow together as we embark on one of life?s greatest journeys - raising healthy, happy children.

Warm wishes
Susan