Attachment parenting
August 30th, 2006What do you make out of this?
My two youngest daughters, Catharine and Eleanor, are two-and-a-half and nearly five now. I’m still breastfeeding them both, and my husband Gary and I are sleeping with Catharine. I know some people find it strange and even disturbing but, to me, it’s all perfectly natural.
Count me among those who find it strange and disturbing. Would “heebie-jeebies” be an appropriate description?
Hat tip: Joel
Attachment? More like irresponsible.
That is very weird. the thing is, though, that is not an isolated event, but it happens more than you think.
Crazy.
On another topic, I have not been able to post a comment on the “weighty Christians” post. I commented, but it hasnt shown up for some reason. Any idea why? I think it would be a great discussion. We should try to comment on it some how, via another post or something.
Thanks! Congrats on the baby too BTW.
Too many jokes……must refrain……….overload, overload!!!!!
ewwww…. if they can walk, talk and ‘ASK FOR A DRINK’ it’s waaaayyy past time for the breasfeeding to STOP!!!!!!
There’s a reason that we don’t recall being breastfed -
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
You just made me laugh, Lisa. Thanks.
“Things that make you go - ‘blughh…’” -Ron White
“Heebie jeebies”…”willies”…you name ‘em, I got ‘em now.
uuhhhhhhhh…….
that’s disturbing. I’m with Lisa–if they can say, “Mommy, I want to nurse,” then it’s beyond waaaaaayyy past time for them to cut the cord.
All kidding aside, this is sad. My guess is this is about the mom, not about the kids. If she’s this unwilling to let go and let her kids move on to the next stage of life at this age, I pity those poor kids as they become young women.
I know a girl who’s entire adult life was centered on having kids. Ironically (or not) she is barren. In order to prepare for having kids, she practiced “attachment parenting” on a kitten and would only carry it around in a baby sling. It makes me wonder if this sort of behavior is less for the child’s well being and more for the needy parent.
The Bible describes children as arrows in a quivver. Last I checked, arrows were meant to be released toward a target.
While it may give you the heebie-jeebies or bring for a collective cultural ewwww, it’s important to remember these have been common practices in many times and places.
Bible scholars assume Samuel was about 5 when Hannah weaned him, and he went to serve in the temple with Eli, and Jesus referenced co-sleeping as an acceptable norm.
Not that every parent and child needs to co-sleep or extended nurse. . . but while it may seem odd in our culture, it’s practice and health benefits are valued in other cultures.
I suppose most of us can pluck a reference out and read into it what we wish.
“I suppose most of us can pluck a reference out and read into it what we wish.”
If I were trying to make a case that the Bible teaches Christians they ought to co-sleep, that would be an appropriate comment.
However, since I am simply illustrating the ewwww-factor is in large part cultural, and simply demonstrating it was not uncommon in other times and cultures, it’s a bit snarky.