My observations and
experiences in the world of AP are as follows:
1. We cosleep and night nurse. I wake up to an adorable smiling baby and it melts my heart. Which needs thawing by the time morning rolls around. My daughter prefers to sleep perpendicularly between my husband and me. This is most efficient, permitting her to kick his face (I didn't believe it until I saw it. 80% sure it's deliberate) while simultaneously manhandling me under the guise of nursing. With both tasks completed, she can go back to sleep just as we fully awaken.
I eventually found
that during slow periods at work, taking a 20 min. nap in the room I used to
pump in helps revive me. My queen size bed at home has nothing on that
pleather two-seater couch in a room with no windows and under fluorescent
lights, and I relish those rare moments of glorious sleep punctuated by the
startling, high pitched Blackberry dings of incoming emails. Those are some
of the beautiful and fleeting moments of parenting.
2. I have been describing food wrong all my life. A dish is edible based on the *lack* of ingredients. Your apples and blueberries fruit salad is of interest to others if, and only if, it is properly identified as #glutenfree #refinedsugarfree #vegetarian #dairyfree #organic #nongmo #intact #novax #raw. Cut up apples with blueberries does qualify as a recipe, and the fact that it really never includes gluten, white sugar, or foreskin is besides the point.
3. Family drama consists of keeping your extended family's processed foods out of your children's guts, ignoring criticism of your weird sleeping arrangements and refusal to use mainstream baby products, and passionately arguing against punishment and cry it out. (Although isn't CIO just punishment for an infant). There's a solid exchange of links to "studies" going on during the work week.
2. I have been describing food wrong all my life. A dish is edible based on the *lack* of ingredients. Your apples and blueberries fruit salad is of interest to others if, and only if, it is properly identified as #glutenfree #refinedsugarfree #vegetarian #dairyfree #organic #nongmo #intact #novax #raw. Cut up apples with blueberries does qualify as a recipe, and the fact that it really never includes gluten, white sugar, or foreskin is besides the point.
3. Family drama consists of keeping your extended family's processed foods out of your children's guts, ignoring criticism of your weird sleeping arrangements and refusal to use mainstream baby products, and passionately arguing against punishment and cry it out. (Although isn't CIO just punishment for an infant). There's a solid exchange of links to "studies" going on during the work week.
4.
Breastfeeding. Oh my goodness, breastfeeding. I do it, I
extended do it, and I find it incredibly important. I even stick breast
milk in every baby orifice at the first hint of illness. However, the
movement to normalize nursing has resulted in hyper-publicizing it.
Peeing, brushing your teeth, and eating vegetables are also normal and
healthy parts of mothering and of life, but I don't see many pictures of Gisele
doing those things.
My husband and I
once experimented with those tasteful, frame-able nursing pictures. They
came out looking more "hobo flashing baby with pale boobs" than
"artsy hottie nourishing child." There was a level of
over-exposure that even the most open-minded mama would prefer not to see.
That camera eventually made its way to Europe, during my first visit to
meet my husband's parents. One cozy evening we gathered around the
computer to view a slideshow of the hundreds of pictures we took of our baby,
forgetting that those nursing gems were on there. Suffice it to say that
I will not be taking nursing pictures in the near future. That evening,
the stern father in law I just met (and wasn't sure whether to awkwardly hug or
warmly hand-shake), my formal mother in law, my husband, and I stood
uncomfortably in sudden silence (no more oohing and ahhing at the cute baby) as
each picture danced its way across the screen and lingered for what felt like
hours.
5. It is
expected that you follow every like-minded blog and Facebook group, comment
with supportive advice to other mamas (where have all the papas gone?), and
post questions that a quick Google search would answer. If you're not a
stay at home mom, you are likely to miss out on many of these posts and
discussions, but, not judging or anything, where is the whole
"attachment" part of attachment parenting if you're at work all day.
There you have it guys, I'm strapping on my Beco and off to the co-op. (Just kidding, I'm at work, but maybe this weekend).
2 comments:
#4 - HAHAHAHAHA! Your "tasteful nursing pictures" and the resulting situation with in-laws made my evening. Sorry, I know it must have been mortifying for you, but I guess since you wrote about it, you can see the humor in it.
Awesome post!
Thanks!
It's funny to me now- in hindsight, two years later :)
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