Our calendar showed two parties. Both with good food; both with good friends. Last year I would have been super stoked for both. This is not last year. This year, I have a baby. This year, I was significantly less excited about the party the baby wasn't invited to.
So THIS is what they mean by "attachment parenting"?? It's actually just a bunch of pathetic parents that can't go anywhere or do anything without their kids? And all this time I'd been thinking it was for the kids!
Previous thoughts on attachment parenting: a style of parenting in which over-protective, helicopter parents smother their children through co-sleeping, baby wearing, and other child rearing techniques in an attempt to help the child feel loved and safe. Children may end up totally dependent on their parents, extremely rebellious, or just fine.
Current thoughts on attachment parenting: I am a parent. I am attached to my baby.
I didn't do it on purpose; it wasn't any one conscious decision that I made. I never thought I'd be co-sleeping for half the night but when the choice is a few hours of sleep or no hours of sleep, I choose sleep. When the choice is listen to the baby scream for hours or snuggle her to sleep, I choose snuggling. I don't really see those choices changing, so I guess we're going to be attached. There are worse things in life.
In an attempt to even things out and keep either of us from becoming completely glued at the hip, I make sure to give her plenty of "unsupervised," self-play time. Read that: I browse Facebook, write blog posts, and do the dishes while she sits at my feet and whines. It does make me feel a little selfish sometimes, but I'm trying to avoid a severe case of First Child Syndrome. Or maybe I'm just a second child trying to get back at firstborns everywhere.
Here's a little Marriage 201 free lesson when it comes to parenting: Remember your first love. Aka your spouse. Yes, your infant needs much more time and attention to survive (and probably more snuggles to get to sleep) than your marriage does, but that doesn't mean your spouse should be stuck playing second fiddle to the baby. Find a few practical things you can do to remind yourself to share the love. Here are a few sample ideas:
Here are just a few of many reasons why she's got me wrapped around her little finger:
Apparently I'm not the only one falling prey to her charm. This little Peanut held the nursery lady hostage a few Sundays ago and keeps all the middle school boys entertained each week at Youth Group. She's a keeper.
*This post is in no way intended to promote or degrade attachment (or any other style of) parenting.*
So THIS is what they mean by "attachment parenting"?? It's actually just a bunch of pathetic parents that can't go anywhere or do anything without their kids? And all this time I'd been thinking it was for the kids!
Previous thoughts on attachment parenting: a style of parenting in which over-protective, helicopter parents smother their children through co-sleeping, baby wearing, and other child rearing techniques in an attempt to help the child feel loved and safe. Children may end up totally dependent on their parents, extremely rebellious, or just fine.
Current thoughts on attachment parenting: I am a parent. I am attached to my baby.
I didn't do it on purpose; it wasn't any one conscious decision that I made. I never thought I'd be co-sleeping for half the night but when the choice is a few hours of sleep or no hours of sleep, I choose sleep. When the choice is listen to the baby scream for hours or snuggle her to sleep, I choose snuggling. I don't really see those choices changing, so I guess we're going to be attached. There are worse things in life.
In an attempt to even things out and keep either of us from becoming completely glued at the hip, I make sure to give her plenty of "unsupervised," self-play time. Read that: I browse Facebook, write blog posts, and do the dishes while she sits at my feet and whines. It does make me feel a little selfish sometimes, but I'm trying to avoid a severe case of First Child Syndrome. Or maybe I'm just a second child trying to get back at firstborns everywhere.
Here's a little Marriage 201 free lesson when it comes to parenting: Remember your first love. Aka your spouse. Yes, your infant needs much more time and attention to survive (and probably more snuggles to get to sleep) than your marriage does, but that doesn't mean your spouse should be stuck playing second fiddle to the baby. Find a few practical things you can do to remind yourself to share the love. Here are a few sample ideas:
- Greet your spouse first when coming home from work, kiss the baby second
- Family snuggle time rather than just you and baby
- 15 minute time-in for you and your spouse (it's beneficial for babies to see their parents spending time together, even if she cries the whole time because she's being left out)
Here are just a few of many reasons why she's got me wrapped around her little finger:
- That scrunchy nose when she smiles
- The way she dances when she hears anything remotely resembling music
- Her little hand that always wants to be connected to Mommy. Whether she's playing, eating, sleeping she likes to be holding some part of me.
- Hugs and sloppy wet kisses
- Her curiosity and fascination with the world around her
- The recognition and excitement when she sees her dad or me
- Those eyes full of expectation
Apparently I'm not the only one falling prey to her charm. This little Peanut held the nursery lady hostage a few Sundays ago and keeps all the middle school boys entertained each week at Youth Group. She's a keeper.
*This post is in no way intended to promote or degrade attachment (or any other style of) parenting.*
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