Natural parent...what?

[waiting4baby]

What does being a natural parent mean to you or rather how are you a natural parent - I understand we all have degrees?

[Dorasmum]

Well I've discovered that a natural parent for me is basically doing the exact opposite to what those around me are doing.... But it is a lot to do with following my instinct and not being afraid to do something a way that may seem odd to others but I feel is the right way to do something. I don't want to be a sheep. BUT if there is a mainstream way of doing something that feels right to me, I will still do it that way, i won't buck the system just because. I WILL look for alternatives to the usual medicinal/chemical way of doing things, but i won't compromise the health of my children just to be pigheaded. That is the balance i find tricky, when to know when to draw the line.

The biggest difference i see in my way of mothering when observing other mothers around me is my baby is with me all the time day and night, if not with me, with their father and then only with very close friends or family after about 18 months for small periods and not overnight till 3 or 4. That is one thing I will never compromise on.

Now see how others have interpreted your question..

Em

[Marguerite]

Now there is a question....

I don't think of it as a check box and you have to do this, that and the other to consider one's self a natural parent. Although I recall from when I read Dr Sears books back in the day that there were, in his opinion the 6 b's of attachment parenting. (my personal fave, beware of sleep trainers )

I agree with Em that for me a lot of it is trusting my instincts, plus seeing my children as people and treating them as such.

[tamarab30]

I agree with Lisa - it's mainly for me trying to treat them as little people whose feelings and ideas are just as important as mine (which is actually quite hard to do sometimes - guess I'm human lol) and following my instincts even when other people think I'm over-reacting (yes DH, if you've snuck on here and are reading this I really do mean YOU! lol)

[Marguerite]

Originally Posted by tamarab30

yes DH, if you've snuck on here and are reading this I really do mean YOU! lol

[emd]

For me, it means trusting my instincts. I let things happen naturally as much as possible, but there are times when intervention is necessary in order to have a balanced, healthy family life. There might be people who think I accept too much intervention, or people who think I should accept more. As my very intelligent MIL says, "you can only do what you can live with".

[Greenmama2AJ]

I believe in instinctual parenting and I try to trust in the millions of years of evolution that have resulted in human life. I'm also a big believer that nature does things for a reason and the more you "listen" to those instincts the healthier and happier your life becomes. I'm the biggest sceptic when it comes to "pediatric" advice and any other parenting advice that originates from a paternalistic, Victorian era.

So natural parenting to me means following natures lead on parenting. I follow attachment parenting and now that AJ is growing, I'm also interested in aspects of the Continuum Concept and philosophies like that. So far, it seems to work out o.k, lol

[aniwaniwa]

for me, following my heart & loving life revolving around my family. And yes agree to trying to respect the little ones as people.

[waiting4baby]

okay so if I was not going to practice attachment parenting I would not be considered a 'natural parent'?

[tamarab30]

Hi waiting4baby,
Natural parenting is whatever is right for you. We are all on a journey in parenting and the learning never stops. There is no right or wrong for anyone, and you are more than welcome to take any information or advice from this forum and contribute in any way you can. I was only partial attachment parenting for my children when they were younger and now wish from learning so much on this forum that I was full attachment parenting. Welcome again to NP, hope you find your niche here.