Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Motherhood....
While I was checking my favorite blogs today, I was reading the ongoing conversation and discussion that has been going on between Danielle Bean and Dr. Greg Popcak. Very interesting, to read click here. I totally agree with Danielle Bean and if you go to her site here, you can read more about the ongoing discussion. As a new mother, I have personally (along with my husband), wrestled with all the decisions about raising children brings. Do we vaccinate or not? Do we co-sleep or not? Do we let them cry? Do we breastfeed and for how long? etc. There is so much information and research and OPINIONS out there, it starts to get overwhelming. After doing much of our own, I agree with Danielle that in the end you take it all in, assimilate it the best you can and for your family and each individual child decide what works for you. I have gotten quite insecure sometimes in my decisions when pressure from others starts to contradict and explain why they disagree with your decision. It started to make me feel like I wasn't making the right choice or that I was putting my child in some sort of danger or "second best" environment. In the end though, I realize that we have to be comfortable with the decisions we make as parents for our children. As long as they are healthy and holy ones. As long as they are not neglected in any way, I believe children flourish in all different environments and families and none are "better" than the others because they have chosen one certain way of raising them. Danielle's responses came as a breath of fresh air to me and really gave me some good things to reflect upon. AP and strict ecological breastfeeding are not for everyone....not even ALL catholics and I don't think they should be made to feel that way, which is how Dr. Popcak comes across to me. After all, I wouldn't have my sweet little Emma if I had followed his advice!! I say, take what you want and create the family and child rearing system that works for you.....I don't think my girls have "suffered" or not received the best care by our decisions.....thus far!
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2 comments:
I agree--in that there cannot be an 'elitist' attitude that seems to come through human nature no matter how noble the cause. Everyone wants to do the best for his family. I don't have human kids, but if I did, I would choose what we thought were best for them. Not what a group or person (catholic or not) of the hour said was best.
To each their own for sure. However, something I noticed in people's REACTIONS to the debate is the defensiveness toward Popcack and what he ACTUALLY said vs. what he REALLY said. That said, I do honestly think AP AS A PHILOSOPHY is the best thing out there for all babies. I do NOT think EVERY SINGLE AP PRACTICE needs to be done by EVERY SINGLE parent. (For example, there is a point when my boys have to 'cry-it-out'... something that goes against the AP list) But the philosophy of touching your baby more and being responsive to baby's needs... and yes that breastfeeding is BEST for your baby (though I certainly accept some variance as to how long and how often people choose to do it).
Does this mean everyone who doesn't co-sleep etc., are substandard parents. Not at all. At least not in my opinion. I'm not sure if I took Popcack's thoughts out of context or not. But I have noticed a lot of defensiveness out there...
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