6.04.2015

Raising my kids, post-Y2K

I just gotta vent for a minute.
You ready?
 
Being a mom is tough! Especially in this day in age!
I feel like every time I get on the internet, I'm bombarded with ads, articles and opinions, telling me what's right and what's wrong when it comes to caring for my child.
 
Feeding:
 
You use store-bought baby food? Gasp! GMOs!!!
You make your own baby food? Ohemgee. Hipster much?
 
Bathing:
 
You should bathe your child daily, using soaps made only of the purest of materials, with all natural, all organic ingredients, no bleaches or dyes and absolutely no harsh chemicals. None.
(So... you mean, like, water, right?)
 
Americans bathe too much! By bathing your child daily, or even every other day, you are removing too many of the "good germs" that babies need in order to build their immune systems.
 
Sleeping:
 
Your child should sleep on their stomach.
Oh, your kid should definitely be sleeping on their back.
Maybe try their side?
 
Learning/Teaching:
 
You should be reading to your child X amount of minutes per day, while also engaging in one-on-one play to ensure that they learn to interact with others.
 
Let your kid do his own thayng...
if you don't, he's going to be super clingy!
 
Baby wearing:
 
Wearing your babies makes everything so much easier!
Wearing your babies causes them to be incapable of making their own decisions!
 
Circumcision:
 
Circumcise your child, because we said so.
What? You're circumcising?? Do you know what you're doing?
 
Oh the insanity!
 
And what is with not putting sunscreen on your newborns or only using bottled water to formula feed? I didn't even know those were a thing!!! Did you?
 
I sometimes just wish we could go back to simpler times. Before Facebook. Before Instagram. Before texting. Before cell phones. Before technology-based media overtook our world!
 
I am a firm believer in being honest with and standing true to yourself, regardless of how popular it might be. I am still swayed by others, but for the most part, I really just like to do things my own way. I guess I'm stubborn. Or just really conceited.
 
So in case you were wondering,
I plan to feed my babies store-bought food, because I don't enjoy making my own and I will breastfeed whenever possible, because I am blessed with the ability to do so. (Oh and I am 100% PRO public breast-feeding. Let's talk about the purpose of a woman's breasts sans the confusion of our sexualized society!) I will wash my children's clothes in Tide, because I like how it smells. My children will sleep however I find it easiest to get them to be comfortable. I will bathe my kids whenever I want (which is usually something like 3 days in a row, then not again for another 4 days. ha.) At this point in our lives, I will spend most of my child's awake time next to her side, because I LOVE being her mommy and don't want to miss any of it. Overprotective? I guess you could say that. Or you could just chalk it up to the fact that I'm a first-time mom who still has the time and luxury to sit next to my 1-year-old instead of attending to a crying baby or my older kids in an argument! I will wear my newborn in a carrier whenever I can, because hello... I have a 13-month-old who is just barely learning to walk and I will soon be birthing another tiny human (whom will be circumcised. TMI? Sorry.) I will use sunscreen on my newborn and I won't be using bottled water if we formula feed again, because formula is expensive enough in and of itself! Oh and another thing... I don't clean my house every day, because I would rather spend my free-time elsewhere. I like cooking, so I do it... not trying to out-do anyone, just going with what feels good. So, for the record, if you come over to hang out, chances are, it'll be a mess... but I'll offer you some good food, so I think it evens itself out.
 
Phew.
Glad I got that out.
Anything you want to vent about?
 

4 comments:

Lauren Mc said...

I will not make or buy baby food because it's expensive/time consuming and any table food is baby food when cut small enough. I will breastfeed past 1 year, but ideally not past 2, including putting them to sleep until they seem ready to wean and fall asleep on their own. I will not sleep train. I will baby wear and respond when they cry because I believe it's because they need me and I see then respond well to it. I will adjust to their schedule rather than making them adjust to mine. We don't circumcise. I will wash my kids every three days or so because bedtime takes long enough without adding in the bath. I will let my child have TV time, I will read to him, I will try and do fun activities on a fairly regular basis but I will not let pinterest tell me my projects are not enough, and I will not feel bad if I don't use a single suggestion from the 50 things to do during summer/snowstorm lists. I will doll up when I want to doll up, not because I feel like I should. I will own my failures and follow my instincts and stand freaking tall even if I am agreeing up or my kid is throwing a tantrum, because we are both learning and I can do better next time.

This was liberating. Thanks :) and I totally agree with you. Parenting before y2k would have been a lot softer on my insecurities!

Lauren Mc said...

Screwing up, not agreeing ...

Jordan Blaser said...

I loved this! So true! I have no idea what I am doing, and the internet doesn't help!

MulfHerd said...

Oh my gosh! I loved this!! It was liberating for ME to see that we're both doing things differently, yet we're both doing them RIGHT for our own families! Keep standing tall, because yes, we're all just learning and doing our best. :)