Reflections of a New AP Mama
Read the article this discussion is about
- Zanzi
- WillsMom
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Jo Murphy
- WillsMom
- msaraann
- WillsMom
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Joy Butler
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-- posted by WillsMom
» msaraann - Welcome
Hi. I'm glad you've adopted this topic. I considered adopting it myself, but my Natural Parenting topic keeps me busy enough.Your article reminded me of an article I read, "The Pitfalls of 'Optimum' Parenting & The Healing Gap," at http://fnl.atendesigngroup.com/ONSITE/re...
It talks about the issues of measuring up to an idealized parenting approach, especially when we were parented in a different way.
I look forward to reading your articles.
-- posted by msaraann
» WillsMom - Re: Welcome
In response to message posted by msaraann:Thank you! I read the article, and I bookmarked it, since it struck a chord with me. I've found myself in the middle of two different lives... the "ideal" attachment parenting situation, and the one created by both my own upbringing, and by society. Life would've been so much easier if my son had been the "ideal" AP baby, but he wasn't, so I not only had to try to shed the mainstream ideas about parenting, but I also had to examine (and re-examine, and re-examine) my decisions that were not so-called AP "techniques." Was I just giving in to conventional society? Or was I responding to my baby's cues?
It's very easy to get inot an "us-against-them" mentality. In an AP forum I visit, a question arose over something I'd written: "Do AP parents think that they love their children more than non-AP parents?" The article you included in your message is a GREAT reminder that we need to be as loving and responsive to each other as we are to our babies!
-- posted by WillsMom
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Joy Butler
- Re: Re: Welcome
Beautiful article! I raised my children in the 70's and 80's. I think I must have used the AP method before it was called that. Sometimes I was questioned or frowned upon but my son and daughter are grown now and are both two of the greatest people alive and are my best friends. My advice? Don't pay too much attention to any "hard and fast" advice, just use common sense and follow your heart, and enjoy each moment, as they don't stay little for very long at all. Love will always win out over any "parenting techniques".
-- posted by Joy Butler
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