Parenting decisions
I've been reading a lot of parenting blogs today and it got me thinking really about what my parenting style is, what decisions I have made and what ones I will make in the future.
I suppose by most people's standards, I am a hippy-ish type of mom. Other net names for it: Crunchy, Granola, AP, Attached Parenting. I didn't set out to parent to a specific style. Heck, some of the things we are doing I didn't want to do and said I wouldn't be doing when I was pregnant.
I breastfeed my son. Yes, even though he is 15 months, he still nurses. Its good for him immune system. Its an awesome way to reconnect at the end of the day. When he decides he is down nursing, I'll quit. Until then, we are on his timeline. No one has ever gone off to college still nursing, I am sure my son won't be the first.
We cosleep. This was one I said I wouldn't do. And then I had him. The L&D process was a nightmare and I was too tired to fight with my body about putting him back in the plastic bassinet. By the time we were home from the hospital, the stage was set and we have been doing it since. Its, again, an awesome way to reconnect at the end of the day and I sleep longer because I am not having to get out of bed to nurse him.
I babywear. It makes it so much easier than having to constantly worry about whether I have the stroller with me or not. I do have a stroller and I do use it but for walks, crowded places, missed naps during errands... well, its just as easy and comfortable to put him in the sling and go.
I don't yell, spank regularly or hit. Of course there is the rare occasion of a lost temper but by and large, I try to explain my position to my son and we "discuss" things. I lead him through the motions of what needs to happen but yelling and hitting aren't things I am willing to do to my dog. How could I be willing to do them to my son?
I figure it this way... my son is only a baby right now. His sense of security, his lack of fear, his self-esteem and his feelings about the world come directly from how he is treated. I want him to know he is an intelligent, capable, good boy with the power to make decisions about his life. I want him to be raised with 10 times the amount of self esteem and self assurance I had.
I suppose by most people's standards, I am a hippy-ish type of mom. Other net names for it: Crunchy, Granola, AP, Attached Parenting. I didn't set out to parent to a specific style. Heck, some of the things we are doing I didn't want to do and said I wouldn't be doing when I was pregnant.
I breastfeed my son. Yes, even though he is 15 months, he still nurses. Its good for him immune system. Its an awesome way to reconnect at the end of the day. When he decides he is down nursing, I'll quit. Until then, we are on his timeline. No one has ever gone off to college still nursing, I am sure my son won't be the first.
We cosleep. This was one I said I wouldn't do. And then I had him. The L&D process was a nightmare and I was too tired to fight with my body about putting him back in the plastic bassinet. By the time we were home from the hospital, the stage was set and we have been doing it since. Its, again, an awesome way to reconnect at the end of the day and I sleep longer because I am not having to get out of bed to nurse him.
I babywear. It makes it so much easier than having to constantly worry about whether I have the stroller with me or not. I do have a stroller and I do use it but for walks, crowded places, missed naps during errands... well, its just as easy and comfortable to put him in the sling and go.
I don't yell, spank regularly or hit. Of course there is the rare occasion of a lost temper but by and large, I try to explain my position to my son and we "discuss" things. I lead him through the motions of what needs to happen but yelling and hitting aren't things I am willing to do to my dog. How could I be willing to do them to my son?
I figure it this way... my son is only a baby right now. His sense of security, his lack of fear, his self-esteem and his feelings about the world come directly from how he is treated. I want him to know he is an intelligent, capable, good boy with the power to make decisions about his life. I want him to be raised with 10 times the amount of self esteem and self assurance I had.
Labels: parenting
1 Comments:
Sounds like you're a great mom. Very in tune with what is best for you and your family. Fantastic deal on the nursing. My girls both self-weaned around 13 months. You're right, it's so good for their immune systems and such a wonderful bonding time.
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