I did it. I bought the TIME magazine that everyone was talking about – the one where the toddler is breastfeeding.
Why? That’s a good question!
I guess I just wanted to see what all the hoopla was about. It was being tweeted about, people were responding on blogs, Facebook had similar pictures posted, and I was like “Okay… so what’s this about anyway?”
The article talks extensively about Attachment Parenting a la Dr. Williams Sears who wrote the book called The Baby Book, which the Time magazine calls the AP Bible. Let me say this, I love Attachment Parenting but guess what? Dr. Sears did not invent it. He is not a God. He is a man that labeled what women have been doing for CENTURIES!
“Am I mom enough?” as the cover asks.
I am a mom, that’s it.
Sure, I breastfeed for an extended time, I babywear, I try to be a peaceful parent and don’t let my kids cry it out. I do not do those things because the AP Bible tells me to. I do those things because, instinctively, that is what feels right and good to me as a mother. I am not trying to be an elitist when I encourage others to breastfeed or try cloth diapering or suggest using a baby carrier. I am not trying to entice a “Mommy War” when I say I don’t let my kids CIO. I say these things because they feel right to me and if it feels right to someone else, I want them to know they are not alone if they want to parent this way.
What did you think of the TIME cover and article? I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for sharing, Jennie! While I have not read the TIME article, the cover alone turns me off. Why does it seem like motherhood has to be a competition? Who breastfed the longest, or had the longest labor, or the most “natural” birth? I do think AP principles are important, and I enjoy sharing them with others, but, like you, I am certainly not in this to compete with anyone else!
But, like other articles that create controversy, it gets people thinking and dialoguing, and that is always a good thing!
The TIME cover is quite a turnoff to an approach to parenting that probably is just fine when done with love and the right amount of discipline when it’s needed. I have a little trouble with cry-it-out as a “policy,” but sometimes we did let our son cry when it seemed appropriate, like when he needed to blow off steam or got overtired. Thanks for sharing your stand.
I like to think of this as moms sticking up for other moms in all regards. I thought this cover was fantastic. Other countries think it gosh to feed your children cows milk, we think it’s bad to do something natural. I don’t get us, silly Americans, sometimes. Love your blog!
Agreed! Thanks for stopping by!