Attachment Parenting

This probably comes across as such a random topic for me. I'm not a parent. I'd like to be someday (as most of you know because of Dear Skye) but that's not something that will be happening in the near future. I've been talking a lot about my beliefs on parenting in the past few months, particularly attachment parenting. I've had to answer the question, what the heck is attachment parenting? so much lately that I've decided to put it all into a handy dandy little blog for you if you're interested in learning more.

Attachment parenting is based on a theory that children form strong emotional bonds with their parents during childhood that have lifelong consequences.

There are eight principles of attachment parenting:

Preparation for Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting

Feed with Love and Respect

Respond with Sensitivity

Use Nurturing Touch

Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally

Provide Consistent Loving Care

Practice Positive Discipline

Strive for Balance in Personal and Family Life

There aren't any steadfast rules. You're encouraged to make all decisions based on your child's needs. I personally have decided on natural birth (not sure if I want it at home, though), baby wearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding, homeschooling (haven't decided until what age but will be until middle school at the latest), nurturing empathy and continuum concept. I've also really looked into paleolithic lifestyle, which I feel goes hand in hand with attachment parenting.

Click any of the links above to learn more about what I mentioned. Also, below are some of my favorites...

Getting Ready For Pregnancy and Childbirth

Infant Sleep Safety

Effective Discipline

Grandparent/Grandchild Bond

7 Baby B's

What Attachment Parenting Is Not

What I Know About Being An Attachment Parent - Alanis Morissette

Most people feel that attachment parenting requires too much time and not fit for working families. Wrong! Check out Busy Attached Families.

An interesting concept I've seen pop up in attachment parenting discussions is unschooling. This is not something I support. I understand and appreciate the principles behind it. I will definitely incorporate some of it's practices into the way I raise my child but I think it's best (for me, personally) if I apply those principles in conjunction with school. Interesting fact: Michelle Branch's parents practiced unschooling and she turned out just fine. I am exploring the idea of Montessori which I feel is a healthy balance.

"Is it you think there's some impropriety sexually? Is it you think boundaries need to be walls? What is it that you hate so much about it? Ms Morissette said she believes that the general disdain for attachment parenting is a symptom of 'a severely under-touched society'. It's just shown me how traumatized America is with regards to not being open to intimacy, the horror that kind of connection, touch, she said. I think we're a severely under-touched society. Everyone thinks there's some kind of sexual impropriety going on when it's actually just connection and intimacy and nurturance." - What Part Of It Is Gross?

Where you invest your love, you invest your life.

I've been living more intentionally lately.  I've set out to connect with friends (old and new) that contribute nothing but sunshine and sparkles into my life.  I've stopped working my life away which has given me time to explore paths i've ignored before.  I've been investing my life in things that truly make me happy.  And I've stopped apologizing for anything that makes me happy.

Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you or makes you happy.  Once you learn to be happy, you won't tolerate being around people that make you feel anything less.

nothing is worth it if you aren't happy.

If it walks like a bigot, talks like a bigot... it's a bigot.

I know none of you will believe this because I'm not exactly known for keeping my mouth shut, but I really have tried my hardest to not say too much today about the imbeciles flocking to Chick-fil-a.

But, that ends now.

I'm the most intolerant person you'll ever meet apparently because if you know the severe harm Chick-fil-a is causing to a large group of people and STILL choose to support them, there's no room for you in my life. This is not about one comment made by Dan Cathy.  This is about years and years of hate and discrimination.  There's nothing good about an organization that uses shock treatment on teenagers and tells them they're beyond God's grace.  That's exactly what Exodus International does and that is one of the many hate groups that your beloved Chick-fil-a supports.  Don't you dare tell me this is an issue of freedom of speech/religion when people are DYING because of it.

It really baffles me how people can argue with facts.  Educate yourselves here.  Why support a company that's working so hard to deny people their rights?

And for the love of all things holy, Christians, please please please stop posting about how you're being persecuted. (Notice I said you not we because I don't want to be included in your shenanigans; you're making me look bad.)  If you want to talk about persecution, let's talk about the things YOU are doing to people all across the universe in the name of Jesus.  Cut it out.

I'm glad this whole Chick-fil-a shenanigans happened when it did though because through Facebook I've been able to easily point out who the bigots are and remove them from my life.

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