I've been reading a TON the last few days regarding TIME magazine's cover (and story) about attachment parenting, specifically extended breast feeding. For those of you that aren't familiar with either, I'd suggest reading up on attachment parenting. Extended breastfeeding means just what it says - that you breastfeed your child for longer than most people typically do (most people aim for 12 months).
I can't imagine nursing a 3, 4, or even a 5 year old. They can TALK TO YOU and do so many things themselves (like drink milk from a cup!) that it seems like it's more a selfish desire of the mother than something that the child needs. I know that most people in America are told to aim for 12 months of nursing a baby (if possible), and the WHO recommends 2 years. There are countries all over the world where children are regularly nursed for 3-4 years but most of them don't have a ready supply of other milk to drink. It's so...ridiculous to me that someone would nurse their child that long! However, to each their own I suppose. If it works for your family, hey, more power to you. However, I'm not going to do it myself. I nursed L for 13 months and E for 16 months, and while I miss the closeness of having them near me, I don't regret weaning them. They are healthy, capable toddlers and don't seem to miss it one bit (in fact, I get the distinct feeling that E always preferred her pacifier to me!).
Attachment parenting is a whole other topic. I don't think I could make a sensible, logical, informed post on this right now just because it's such a vague topic to me. I think "attachment parenting" and my mind goes straight to the Nazi-type moms who insist that if you don't breastfeed, cloth diaper, co-sleep, use organic foods, avoid sugar, make your own everything, or follow your child around like a puppy you are a horrible, horrible mother and shouldn't be allowed to breed. Whatever happened to being informed and still making your own choices? The next time someone calls me an eco-rapist or something similar, I may have to whap them upside the head and tell them "my kids, my choice, and remember I know the same information you do!" I wish it wasn't such a stigma these days to choose for your children what you think is appropriate. Do my children watch TV? Yes, they watch PBS cartoons. Is it recommended by the APA? Nope, but I know that and my husband and I still choose to give them small amounts of it anyway. OUR CHOICE. Will my child die, be brain dead by age 5, or be destine to be a slob and criminal? Um, no. Watching cartoons as a child didn't kill my friends, my family, or myself, and we all turned out pretty darn okay. If you have the information and understand what it can and can't do for your child, you should be able to make an informed decision about what is appropriate for your child. It may not be for everyone, but if it works for your family, go for it.
I'll just stay over here with my kids who eat sugar, non-organic foods, drink juice, watch cartoons, bathe in hot water, wear non-organic cotton pajamas, run around barefoot in the yard, sleep in their own cribs/beds, and play by themselves and together when Mommy has to go potty.
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