from our publisher & editor
“Parenting with empathy should not be something
we have to hide from doctors or relatives to avoid
reactions. Respecting children as whole people
should be something we’re proud of. We say we
want to give children a voice, but we whisper for
their rights in secret clubs and groups.” ~ Heather
Greenwood
If you’re on the natural parenting path, you probably have a group of like minded friends – in real
life or online – to ask questions, bounce ideas off
of, commiserate with, and help keep you sane.
Our communities on Facebook or Google+ are
not exclusive for the sake of keeping anyone out.
Rather, they’re designed to give a comfortable
space for a mom to ask a question about handling
a temper tantrum without spanking. She’s looking for support and suggestions without judgment… not “we all got spanked and we turned
out fine.”
When I saw Heather’s quote, the reality of these
private groups struck me. What’s the cost of
keeping our attachment parenting questions only
to people who think they way we do?
By willingly dropping out of the mainstream
conversation, our voices aren’t heard by that new
mom who reaches out for help on a public board.
By choosing not to hang out at the mainstream
moms group play date, we miss the chance to
encourage that mom who feels like her only
hope for getting a good night’s rest is letting her
baby cry it out.
One gentle parenting comment is all it can take to
change the direction of a whole family.
I know this is true, because it happened to me.
After a rough night with our second baby, we told
our doula we hoped he would be an “easier baby”
than his brother had. She thoughtfully told us
she thought our oldest was such a gracious and
content child now because we’d been practicing
attachment parenting without knowing there was
a name for it.
Another of these life-changing comments came
from the incomparable Peggy O’Mara: “The
way we talk to our children becomes their inner
voice.” I had the remarkable privilege of speaking
with Peggy, and I can’t wait for you to read about
it on page 56. Her perspective gave me a renewed
sense of hope and purpose in what we’re all doing
to raise conscious families.
Conscious parenting truly is a movement. And
you are part of it. Our collective purpose is so
worthwhile, we decided the groups are great…
but we’re ready to shout it from the rooftops…
and we want your voice heard loud and clear.
-Amity
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