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…
Co-Sleeping: Why We Do It
When I was pregnant the first time, I had expectations about where and how my baby would sleep. I had set up a pack-n-play across the room from us, a good 15 feet away from where I rested my head so I could easily access him in the middle of the night. Our baby would sleep in there a few weeks, then, before he got too used to being in our room, I would transfer him to his crib in the room next door, where he would sleep blissfully through the night. Oh, sweet naivety. A Brief Overview of Our Experience The night of Levi’s delivery, he slept…
The Milky Way – A Documentary
Do you have an hour and a half to spare? If so, and you are hoping to breastfeed, skeptical about breastfeeding, are currently breastfeeding, feel as though you failed at breastfeeding, or simply are interested in learning how parenting affects culture, I want to recommend a documentary to you that had a powerful impact on me. When I was pregnant with my second child, I watched this documentary. It found me in a stage of vulnerability and doubt, at a time when I was wrestling with whether or not to wean my toddler, struggling with the cultural stigmas associated with extended breastfeeding. This documentary engaged me, informed me, frightened…
“let’s write a blog.”
I’ve heard it said recently that the inciting incident for every story is either the beginning of a journey or a stranger coming to town. In the case of parenting, I think it’s both. Our journey began about four years ago when my husband said to me, completely nonchalant and out of the blue, “Let’s have a baby.” My heart started pounding, and a list of excuses as to why we weren’t ready began pouring out of my mouth. He insisted that the time was right, and that if I always submitted to my fears, we would never have children. A huge argument and many tears ensued. Long story short,…
