I have long said, since starting this blog that I wanted to discuss some topics which are very near and dear to me. It's been five months coming, but I am now ready to open up the blog to a healthy exchange in regards to the above mentioned topics. This is born out of watching several "debates" get extremely heated and then overtly personal on a parenting message board I used to frequent.
I decided that there had to be a world outside of the message board - the discussions usually end up being circuitous in nature and with the same people condemning the actions of others who don’t agree as either abusive or cruel. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen the statement; “I really feel sorry for the baby that isn’t breastfed/worn on mama at all times/or is left to CIO (Cry It Out)…"
…As I was saying, there has to be a world outside the message boards where others chime in, possibly even others who have actual proficiency in these fields and don’t just chalk it up to being a parent for three minutes and reading loads of books. Believe it or not, there are quite a few mothers I have come across on parenting boards that deem themselves “experts” in areas such as breastfeeding, discipline, childbirth education, etc., and these same women have no formal education whatsoever in when it comes to medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychology or education but due to the fact that they’ve read a few books, or attended a few live births, they are somehow authorities in the area of parenting.
Having said that, over the next few weeks I invite you to an open exchange where we can have an intelligent discussion about these issues and leave the self-righteous, holier-than-thou, condemning attitudes behind. I’ll be inviting “guest authors” to come and write about their experiences and stances and I encourage you, if you have an interest, to comment on what you’ve read, and leave your own thoughts, opinions and ideas behind for others to ruminate over and consider.
