According to Attachment Parenting International, what attachment parenting is really about is this:
The truth of the matter is there are no "rules" to Attachment Parenting. You don't get kicked out if you don't let your child nurse till he's five (or nurse at all for that matter!) It's about respecting your child's needs and recognizing that they are their own person with their own thoughts and desires.The essence of Attachment Parenting is about forming and nurturing strong connections between parents and their children. Attachment Parenting challenges us as parents to treat our children with kindness, respect and dignity, and to model in our interactions with them the way we'd like them to interact with others.
I love the way Dr. Momma puts it, in one brief sentence: "Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience, you are raising a human being."
Here's an beautiful image of the wonderfully courageous Jamie Lynne Grumet that SHOULD have been on the cover of TIME (stolen from my friend Paala's wonderful blog) that summarizes why I choose to be an attached parent...
The following are some of my favorite Attachment Parenting resources:
- Attachment Parenting International (be sure to check out their awesome blog!)
- Dr.Momma.org
- NaturalParentsNetwork.com
- IAmNotTheBabysitter.com (If you're feeling unsupported in your parenting choices, you may find strength and comfort in this incredible post.)
- Mothering.com
- The Baby Book and AskDrSears.com
You can find all the blog posts I've written related to Attachment Parenting by clicking on the label "Attachment Parenting" (under the list of POPULAR POSTS on the right). I also share lots of great AP-related articles I find on my facebook page. Check back often for more links to be added!
