Eureka!

So I have been reading about attachment parenting lately.  Without having to go into a great amount of detail, it is a style of parenting based on Attachment Theory that involves 8 general principles.

(via http://www.attachmentparenting.org)

• Prepare for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting
• Feed with Love and Respect
• Respond with Sensitivity
• Use Nurturing Touch
• Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally
• Provide Consistent and Loving Care
• Practice Positive Discipline
• Strive for Balance in Your Personal and Family Life

I remember learning all about all the parenting styles and theories during undergrad and grad but mostly now I am just living it.  It is very easy to see that Attachment Parenting is exactly the parenting style I use. It seems to come naturally to me I suppose. We are also a nurturing household that does not believe in violence no-way-no-how; so it isn’t surprising to me.   I will go into more detail another time as I find it absolutely fascinating, but I am way to tired from all the active parenting I did today. So for now, follow the links if you are interested. OK…so a point to all of this…..

In this type of parenting, one of the main ways parents can bond and form attachments with their children is through baby wearing. I’ve decided to give this a go since picking up and putting baby down wherever I may be at the moment is frustrating for the both of us. Most of the time he fusses and cries if I walk away or stop paying attention but sometimes he plays contently. This can be very vexing when there is a household to run on top of playing with baby all day.  I was beginning to feel he was a prop that if I situated in the easiest place possible I could quickly do whatever needed to be done.  The really difficult parts of my day have been nap time and bed time.  Sweet Jude is an extremely light sleeper….that is, unless I am holding him, then a rocket ship could fly through the house and he would never hear it.  If I wanted him to sleep then all systems were at a stand still until he woke.  Now, I realize all these thing are very normal for an almost 9 month old so I’m not sweating that. It is, however frustrating at times because these behaviors demand tons of attention and I can’t get ANYTHING done….. That is until……

This is Jude hanging out in his Moby Wrap playing with my frizzy hair. I’ve had this wrap since his birth and have recently been using it more and more, especially when out and about. Yet, I was always a little afraid of the back carry. But this weekend I had a great epiphany. Eureka! I shall tie him on my back so I can mop the dang dirty floor…so…. I watched enough videos on YouTube to consider myself an expert…..That was until the first time I tried to wrap a wiggly squirming baby onto my back and I started having serious second thoughts.  However, I got used to it, and eventually went around doing chores and much neglected housework with Jude safely strapped on.   I was wearing my baby and it was awesome.

Jude absolutely loved it too and the only time he cried today was when I took him out of the wrap to let him play for a while and walked away. He really enjoyed being close to me while I went about doing the things I normally had to rush through or just plain not do. He napped on my back while I talked to my mom on the phone and did dishes…..at the same time! Crazy, I know!  Normally if he is napping, washing dishes is the one thing I absolutely cannot do. It would wake him up no mater how many doors were between us. While sleeping on me he didn’t budge. I even nursed him while rearranging book shelves. At the end of the day, I definitely noticed a happy baby (ok he is always happy) who had great naps and so far is sleeping soundly in his crib.

I will definitely be exploring the world of baby wearing further. …yeah…the term baby wearing does invoke strange visual images of baby sweaters and hats… but I swear this is the proper term!

I am almost giddy with excitement that I might even be able to paint again AND I can share the experience with my son.

OK that is all I have for now. We have a fun adventure planned for tomorrow, hopefully I may have a few pictures to share sometime this century.

‘Till 2075 then,

Love Wenders