In case it’s not already completely obvious I’m one of those kooky AP moms. As in Attachment Parenting. Co-sleeping, breastfeeding, responding to their cries, using the sling when they want to be carried, etc… It’s not something I had planned, not even something I had heard of until I was already a mom. I just followed my gut, did what felt right to me, and made more than a few mistakes along the way. But I’ve learned, gained confidence, and became (in the process of becoming, really) the type of mom I want to be. A big part of that is because of attachment parenting.
Because of my own ideas and parenting philosophy I wanted to share this announcement for other AP moms out there.
Attachment Parenting International (API), a non-profit organization that promotes parenting practices that create strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents, has several exciting changes they would like to announce, including:
Parent Education Program - a comprehensive series of classes for every stage and age of child development from infancy through adulthood;
A new book based on API’s Eight Principles of Attachment Parenting by API co-founders Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson which is expected to be available this summer;
A series of podcasts, webinars, chats, and forums with API Advisory Board members and other supporters of AP. Future events are scheduled with Dr. Bob Sears, Dr. James McKenna, and Kathleen Kendall Tacket. Check out the events page for more information.
These are just a few of many exciting things going on at API. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out for yourself.
I’ve been a little contest crazy lately, entering a bunch in hopes that I win. I’ve been so in a “gotta win something” fit this weekend that I’ve actually entered some really dumb contests. I’m not telling you what, but trust me they were things I have no reason to want at all. (First, before checking out the goodies, go read this post about API!)
To try and sooth myself after the “gimmie” weekend I’m sharing my favorite contests here. Go, enter, and if you win I want 10%.
I love this bag. I love it, love it, love it. It’s a Zosephine Diaper Bag, but this messenger style bag can be used for anything. Even a laptop.
For eco-moms The Greening Book is perfect. It’s full of little tips for teaching kids how to be little tree huggers.
We have a sizable Hispanic population here, so I try to teach Evan a few words in Spanish. Unfortunately my 4 years of it in high school left me with nothing. So I signed up for this Boca Beth Bilingual Backpack.
The boys stay up late every night, Dearest doesn’t come to bed until the sun rises, and I’m usually up late working. This is definitely a house of night owls. That’s why I love this contest to win “House Of Owls” by J. Austin Ryan.
So what do we mommy bloggers do when not blogging? Show off our underwear drawers of course!
Erin (Queen Of Spain) made a little video complaining about the state of affairs in her pantie drawer. Not to be out done I grabbed the camera and made a quick video post on what I call my bras. Oh sure, they were bras once, now they’re just a pile of rags. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
What do you think, make this a weekly thing? Share a few of the posts I’ve written each week, or is this totally boring? Or does no one even read these posts to know the question? Hmmm…
Quick reminder, on Monday I’ll be hosting Unschooling Voices #14 right here. You have until Sunday to get your post in for it. You can either submit your post using the submission form or email me your post. The post can be anything unschooly or answer the monthly question “What unexpected benefit have you gained from unschooling?”
At Mom Is Teaching I ranted a little about bullies in school and out. At the bottom is a link to a great conversation about this at one of my favorite sites.
And that’s it for me this week. I really like putting together a list of my posts from around the web, but I’d hate to bore people more than I already do.
Should the weekly round up stay or go?
Get rid of it, you post enough already.
Get rid of it, if I wanted to read other posts I would go there instead.
During our adventure Monday and Tuesday Evan manged to embarrass me on a whole new level. Kids, they open their mouths and it all comes spilling out without a filter or a pause.
We were walking between two buildings in this commercial real estate area, crossing a little road/path in between. A woman was passing the opposite way and we met in the middle. The woman was about medium build, but had a rather wide behind. We weren’t even a step past her when, as loudly as possible, Evan proclaimed:
“Mom! That woman has a big butt just like you!”
My face instantly went 100 shades of red. Luckily she took it in stride and laughed at his little comment. Not even half an hour later we came across her in passing as she was telling the story to a group of people and giggling. I was still beet red and hoping Evan would forget how to talk for the rest of the day.
OK, don’t make me feel so alone here. What things have your kids said that made you want to crawl under a rock and die? What comments have they made that should have been kept silent. Come relive your humiliation with me.
No, the little guy isn’t ours. Much to the boy’s dismay. He actually belongs about a block from us, but the owners let him run loose all day. He’s always coming down to play with the boys and following us on walks. No collar, no tags, and, uh, not fixed. The dog is almost always around, I bet if we had a little shade area or some patio furniture for him to sleep under he might now ever leave. He’s adorable, loves the boys, and is so sweet. Evan nearly squeals over that curled tail, he calls is a “little piggy tail”.
Anyone know what breed it is? It’s about the size of a Chihuahua, but I’ve never met one so loving or with that cute tail. And is it supposed to be that skinny? He ate all the out door cat food and two handfuls of snacks, but then most dogs eat first and think later anyway.
Monday a little after noon we loaded up into the car and drove a couple hours away with a plan to spend a few hours at the aquarium, help one of Dearest’s friends with computer trouble, and go out to eat as a family. As it turned out our simple plans were anything but. We ended up having to find a store still open late at night, buy a change of clothes and toiletries, then drive for another hour to find a hotel we could afford with a vacancy. It was after midnight when we finally laid down in bed with two over-tired and very unhappy kids.
So here is my tip for this week. If you are going anywhere, even for “just a few hours” or “just the afternoon” pack an over night bag. It doesn’t matter if you have absolutely no intentions of staying the night, just have one ready. Stock it with a simple outfit for each child, travel sized version of things such as deodorant and tooth paste, and nonperishable snacks. You never know, you just never know.
In fact, pack one now and go stick it in your trunk. Be sure to check it often to make sure you can still use what you have, that the clothes are season appropriate and in size, that there are diapers if you need them, that nothing has expired. Stick an envelope with some spare cash too in case you don’t have enough on you to get a room. You do not want to end up at the one that charges hourly.
Attachment Parenting International (API), a non-profit organization that promotes parenting practices that create strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents, has several exciting changes they would like to announce, including:
