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Thanks, but I guess I'm not "Mom Enough"! Not only did I not breast feed, I didn't take those natural childbirth LaMaze classes that were all the rage (I had an epidural both times), and I didn't encourage my kids to sleep with me. They had their own rooms and I made them get used to it. I think I broke every "overattachment parenting" rule there is. Incidentally, both are in their twenties, healthy, independent, and are not on my insurance or living in my basement.
Speaking for myself and DH (we are in our 50's) - OUR mothers didn't do any of that. We turned out all right, didn't we? When I was pregnant with my first (1985), I attended a first pregnancy seminar and there were MANY of us who cringed and balked at the idea of natural childbirth and breastfeeding. Back then, they didn't force us or scold us. The nurse practioner who conducted the classes said that "until they invented a polyester baby, anything was natural".
My take on it is to do what works for you and your family and refrain from judging people who have chosen a different path. Just because one fits the profile of an AP parent and does things like extended breastfeeding, co-sleeping, etc. does not mean that their children will never grow up, never leave home or mommy's side. Same for parents who bottle feed, sleep train, etc. As long as a parent is doing what they feel is best for their children and doing what works for their family then why not try and support one another instead of tear one another down?
There is a lot of ignorance regarding extended breastfeeding and as a mother who has done this with my own children, I find it very sad to read all of the comments and realize just how misinformed people are about something that is so natural and so biologically normal. We are mammals and mammals nurse their young and allow their young to self wean. Based on research of how and when mammals wean, the window for self weaning in humans is between the ages of 2.5 and 7. This of course would be if we removed social conventions that surround nursing and allowed it to happen on it's own time table. If one wants to allow their children self wean, so what? There is no harm in it.
Co-sleeping can be done very safely. I did it with my children because it was the easiest way to ensure that we got a good night's sleep. I did not have to get out of bed at night to tend to their needs. We did it because it worked for us and it is very safe as long as one follows a few very basic precautions. It's not for everyone and that is fine. I just don't see any reason to pass judgement on people for choosing this option.
Mothering is a hard job. It would be so much easier if we could all try to be more understanding and accept that people parent in different ways and there is nothing wrong with that. If we don't understand something instead of jumping to conclusions maybe we could do a little research and learn something new. I haven't read the Time article but I bet it's a sensationalist piece and does more to fuel the mommy wars then it does to educate. If that was Time's goal then they sure did a heck of a job because they managed to accomplish that goal with the cover alone.
My take on it is to do what works for you and your family and refrain from judging people who have chosen a different path.
The mother on the Time cover was herself breastfed until she was 6, so this is what is normal for her. She also breastfeeds her adopted 5 year old, in addition to her almost 4 year old.
Thanks, but I guess I'm not "Mom Enough"! Not only did I not breast feed, I didn't take those natural childbirth LaMaze classes that were all the rage (I had an epidural both times), and I didn't encourage my kids to sleep with me. They had their own rooms and I made them get used to it. I think I broke every "overattachment parenting" rule there is. Incidentally, both are in their twenties, healthy, independent, and are not on my insurance or living in my basement.
Speaking for myself and DH (we are in our 50's) - OUR mothers didn't do any of that. We turned out all right, didn't we? When I was pregnant with my first (1985), I attended a first pregnancy seminar and there were MANY of us who cringed and balked at the idea of natural childbirth and breastfeeding. Back then, they didn't force us or scold us. The nurse practioner who conducted the classes said that "until they invented a polyester baby, anything was natural".
You were unfortunately duped into modernity's Dr.'s know best think.
"Everything is Natural" Bull Crap!.... Epidurals are not natural, not breast feeding your child is the opposite of natural. Every mammal in nature is nursing their young, or they die.
Replacing nature with man made GMO seed meal protein's that are filled with synthetic vit's. and mineral's that are not easily digestible or assimilating to a child's body is like feeding a toddler white bread and processed sugar, then wondering why they aren't healthy, over weight and on the road to diabete's....
OH yeah. THat's where American children are? Sick, fat, and unhealthy.
Dr.'s in America generally speaking are idiots, that do nothing but treat symptoms, and create systems to cause the least disruption of their personal schedules.
The mother on the Time cover was herself breastfed until she was 6, so this is what is normal for her. She also breastfeeds her adopted 5 year old, in addition to her almost 4 year old.
Yes it is normal for her and I don't see anything wrong with it. What I do see as wrong are the millions of people harshly judging her because their experience and sense of what is normal is different.
The mother on the Time cover was herself breastfed until she was 6, so this is what is normal for her. She also breastfeeds her adopted 5 year old, in addition to her almost 4 year old.
So with that reasoning from you, that if someone was breast fed till 12 it would be normal to them.. or if they were breast fed to 30 it would be normal to them. Etc..etc..
Yes it is normal for her and I don't see anything wrong with it. What I do see as wrong are the millions of people harshly judging her because their experience and sense of what is normal is different.
The woman should not have exploited her son putting him on the front of Time Magazine in such a distasteful poise.
Her hand on her hip as if she is modeling.. not nurturing at all and her son who will grow up with this as his big moment in life.
So with that reasoning from you, that if someone was breast fed till 12 it would be normal to them.. or if they were breast fed to 30 it would be normal to them. Etc..etc..
I see how some people get so off base.
Like I said before, the biological range of normal for humans regarding self weaning from the breast is between the ages of 2.5 and 7. A 12 or 30 year old nursing is unheard of as it's outside of that range.
The woman should not have exploited her son putting him on the front of Time Magazine in such a distasteful poise.
Her hand on her hip as if she is modeling.. not nurturing at all and her son who will grow up with this as his big moment in life.
At worst I'd say this mother is naive and idealistic. Since she doesn't think of breastfeeding as a bad thing I highly doubt that she would be able to see any harm in putting her son on the cover. I do not think this photo is going to have a detrimental effect on this child's life. Time, on the other hand exploited the situation in posing them in such an unnatural way in an effort to stir up controversy and sell lots of magazines. They succeeded.
Are you in the dark ages.. do you know about the electoral vote.. it is put in place so every state has a say.
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