tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747608348881834940.post6450348390004447506..comments2023-11-05T18:28:59.313+10:00Comments on Jodi Cleghorn: Conscious ParentingJodi Cleghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00808676742258881407noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747608348881834940.post-61601507280557356602007-09-14T00:13:00.000+10:002007-09-14T00:13:00.000+10:00I don't like the idea of labels as well. And, sinc...I don't like the idea of labels as well. And, since my oldest is almost 17, the label of attachment parenting didn't even exist when I had him. I'd say we have followed our on own path in terms of parenting which has included the family bed, homeschooling for part of the time, wearing our babies, etc. But, each child has been different. Some of my kids spent very little time in the sling while others adored it. My oldest never would've lasted in school in his primary years because he would probably have been labeled with ADD even though I felt his actions and personality were perfectly fine. All that to say, I agree with you. The idea of conscious parenting is a good one and it does have to agree with all family members. What I have found now, many years later, is that my husband has gone along with many of ideas even though he didn't believe in them 100%. So, I think the best advice I could ever give anyone is to make sure you communicate and make decisions together. It sounds like you and your husband went about things the right way. My husband and I were so, so young (21) and still in college so we relied heavily on our intuition and luckily I read Sheila Kitzinger's, "Complete Book of Pregnancy" which is my favorite book on childbirth.Dalissa McEwen Reederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05424482684428232565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747608348881834940.post-91455833046010445002007-09-13T15:26:00.000+10:002007-09-13T15:26:00.000+10:00May I offer one piece of advice - having read and ...May I offer one piece of advice - having read and edited more than 30 birth stories in the last few years and heard countless others. The one thing that I noticed from Edie's birth story is that you haven't recorded how you felt about the birth. You spoke about the frustration leading up to the labour, losing faith in your body ... but how did you feel about bringing her into the world? someone once said that the inclusion of emotions, is what changes a birth story from a list of facts/events and into a true birth story. Is this the missing piece that would make you happy with it? It may also be that you need to spend some more time reflecting on it.<BR/><BR/>It took me many weeks to write Dylan's birth story ... because part of the process of writing it was really understanding why I had chosed to birth at home - the deep down understanding. And over the course of weeks, and a huge falling out with my best friend, which I think helped to free up my feeling about everything, I realised I had birthed at home to reclaim my birth. From there the words and tears flowed out and I hand wrote his story in just under two hours. But I am pretty sure, that I avoided some of the emotions going on, when I retold my story. I was still feeling a bit cagey about some things, especially those leading up to the birth (processed those on Dylan's first birthday!)<BR/><BR/>These are my experiences <BR/><BR/>My other thought is the birth hits a difficult part - bcause it is intensely private but it is also traditionally a social event as well (not that we send out our invites and book the caterer type of social event) We've made birth ultra private (while at the same time making it a totally public event whereby most women will not know those who will attend and support them in birth - less than 2% have continiuity of care with a known midwife!) and forgotten that its also a social one, to be shared with others ... even if they are just those closet to us. It's a tricky double edged sword. Sorry if I have made you uncomfortable!Jodi Cleghornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00808676742258881407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747608348881834940.post-18839969157128602342007-09-13T14:55:00.000+10:002007-09-13T14:55:00.000+10:00I hadn't looked at it that way - as 'conscious par...I hadn't looked at it that way - as 'conscious parenting' but I think this is closest to what I've been doing for the past 14 years. I'd say that's one of the reason why I'm always reluctant to offer advice to other parents, although I'm always ready to offer support where needed. <BR/><BR/>another great read!<BR/><BR/>thanks, also, for your comments on my blog about my birth story - I have to admit I'm not happy with it and keep going back and trying to figure out why. It may just be that its such a private thing to me.. I may have to remove it!d sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09205154196418180684noreply@blogger.com