-
Attachment Parenting: How We Got There
These are some things I believed about myself and my children before I became a mom: I would breastfeed on a schedule, for my children needed to adhere to my routines and schedule. My children would sleep in our room for a short time, then sleep in their own room, and we would sleep-train them to sleep through the night. My children would never be allowed in on our bed, for our bed was sacred. I would discipline my children firmly and physically when needed. Then, I became a mom. My children were breastfed on demand their first year of life and well beyond. My children slept in our…
-
Not our Mother’s Motherhood: Why Today’s Moms Need Each Other’s Encouragement More than Ever
Last night, as the children snuggled in bed with their Daddy, I took ten minutes to complete a survey for Motherly, an online parenting hub which I subscribe to and have written for. While many of the questions were about personal demographics and situation, a few touched on our outlook on motherhood. For example: “Do you feel that society does a good job of understanding and supporting mothers?” I pursed my lips together and clicked quickly. No. Then: “How is today’s generation of moms different from your mother’s generation?” Are we generally more optimistic about motherhood than our mothers’ generation? More pessimistic? I’m wasn’t certain. I could have checked…
-
Spring Cleaning the Mind
I love having a clean house. But, boy, do I hate cleaning. The thought of dusting makes me groan. Polishing hardwood floors on hands and knees makes me tense. Sudsing up dishes, scrubbing toilets, and vacuuming the rugs are arduous to me. The only time I ever gave my husband the cold shoulder was the day he suggested I clean the windows, as if I had nothing better to do. I think the reason I loathe cleaning so much is because it is never finished, especially since having kids. I feel like Sisyphus, stuck in an endless cycle of fruitless labor. Sometimes, it seems like so much work that…
-
How to Research a Controversial Topic
We’ve all seen those articles…the polarizing ones which, once shared, evoke intense feelings, passionate words, and judgment. I’ve seen and experienced how these sorts of articles — which are hallmarked by strong emotions, not strong evidence — can wreak havoc. From politics to parenting, controversial topics can spark a damaging fire, and the fire is fueled by deeply opinionated sources. As parents, there are endless polarizing topics that people are passionate about: birth, circumcision, discipline, gender roles, infant feeding, infant sleep, schooling, screen time, vaccinations, just to name a few. There are articles and podcasts and people’s experiences that argue for and against every single topic, and shame is…
-
When Parenting Makes Marriage Hard
Yesterday was one of those days. It didn’t start out that way. In fact, it had been a good day. I had been patient with the kids. I had some focused school time with Levi that was calm and peaceful. We all enjoyed watching the snow fall, then ventured out into it to shovel and play for an hour, and only a few tears were shed. Sure, I had four loads of unfolded laundry that hovered over me, threateningly, but for the most part, the day went well. But Lucy had taken an early nap, and Levi didn’t at all, which meant that I had been full-time parenting without…
