So thanks for the loan of the Time article with the infamous cover. :) (you know who you are) But despite the aweful cover & "Are you mom enough?" challenge, it was an interesting article. What really got me was the sentence "the prevalenceof this philosophy [attachment parenting] has shifted mainstream American parenting toward a style that's more about parental devotion and sacrafice than about raising self-sufficient kids." It's a hot issue for Jerry & I after struggling to "Ferberize" our daughter, Faith's sleep habits & while we read Boundaries with Kids by Cloud & Townsend about how to hold children accountable & discipline them appropriately to their stages of development.
It has always struck me that a healthy balance faces the enemy of both extremes & this seems to be the case of every vital spiritual battle. Dr. Sears bio was interesting, & it seems obvious that he doesn't endorse parenting that drains the parent of any humanity for every physical whim of the child. This is crippling & dangerous to a child in later stages of life but I am SO GRATEFUL for the scientific insight attachment parenting has given to the 1st three months of an infants' life!
It's interesting that the cover Time chose for "Tiger Mom" was slightly less *shocking.* I don't understand why society has such a difficult time accepting that life grows through STAGES, each of which requires it's own challenges & graces. When I read the Femenine Mystique I was most persuaded by her argument that although mothers VITALLY NEED TO SPEND THE 1ST YEARS OF LIFE HOME with their children before school, mothers should have educations and careers once the children are more self-sufficient. Somehow modern society changed her message from the 1st few years of life to the 1st six weeks! What's suprising to me is how many WOMEN judge one another for taking more/less time off of work for maternity leave and pumping or formula feeding, etc. Why not be grateful that we are all blessed to make the choices we can & do what we can to help other families?! I know most of you are my friends because you share the same sentiments and so I am preaching to the choir or venting for the most part.
I previously wrote during pregnancy of my frustration with the lack of part time work available to young parents, despite how beneficial it would be to the families and the economy. Why is it so dang difficult for people to use common sense?! Please pray that we can find part time work.
