At the risk of being told I am a bad mom-or I did it wrong-I have to say something. I am tired...tired of research articles telling mom's that a NEW finding has found that what they are doing is wrong...damaging...or will forever change how their children attach or don't attach to the world, people, or life.
I have 3 beautiful children-I did nothing to deserve them-but I have them and I am blessed. And I know that even on my best days I am messing up in one way or another...I know this because I am not perfect, therefore in many ways I am going to make mistakes along the way.
Don't we all feel that sense as a parent. If so then why must we go back and forth on these issues. It is a vicious circle that never ends up with both sides feeling good about their parenting choices. Why must we make each other feel guilty in order to feel okay about what we have chosen?
If you can and have chosen to breastfeed-AWESOME.
If you can't breastfeed (and I know this is a topic all in itself) or you chose not to-AWESOME.
If a schedule dictated by parents works for you and your kids AWESOME
If you like to dictate your day based on your kids AWESOME
If you pushed that baby out of you with no drugs AWESOME
If you begged for drugs at the 1st contraction AWESOME
If you tried to get that baby out but it didn't work out for one reason or the other and you had a C-section AWESOME
If you sleep with your baby AWESOME
If your baby has slept in a crib since day 1 AWESOME
If you work AWESOME
If you stay home AWESOME
If you use a stroller AWESOME
If you use a front pack AWESOME
And the list could go on and on-most of those 'hot topics' are just about the 'baby years'-there are MANY more polarizing issues...
Why?? Because we can choose- because we all are doing what we are doing out of love for our kids and our family-because 99% of the time we have no clue why the people who have chosen opposite of us have picked what they do--because some days none of us choose...some days as parents we survive, because there is MUCH to pick at each other about...but there is MUCH MORE to learn from and praise-congratulate-celebrate-and embrace with each other about.
Parenting is a tough gig-we are tasked with figuring out a LOT-with every step there is a new learning curve, a new circumstance, a different kid, a new perspective and the list goes on.
We are all imperfect people-doing a really hard job-I would love if we had more grace for each other in the midst of it all.
