Things to Remember About Natural Parenting
For some parents, choosing a parenting method can be a dilemma. This is especially true for first-time mothers and fathers. Growing up with different parenting styles adds to the difficulty in making a choice. Some questions would arise to come up with the right decision. Which parenting style would they adapt? Would it be a mixture of the two? Or something different altogether?
In the Philippines, finding someone to ask advice from isn’t that hard. The elderly women of the family are more than willing to share their wisdom. Check on the social media and you would sure to find a support group to join. Some first-time parents would even read self-help books and attend seminars to know what to expect.
Let us say, after doing an extensive research, you have decided on one. You figured that the natural parenting method would be the most suited for your family. What’s next?
Here are 3 things you should know of before adopting the natural or attachment parenting method:
It’s Natural Parenting by Default
It is inherent in parents to create a bond with their children and to provide for their needs. Though the term attachment parenting was first used by Dr. William Sears in 1982, the attachment parenting theory has been in practice before that.
In the rural areas and provinces of the Philippines, it is common to see breastfeeding mothers and the whole family sleeping in one bed. Choosing a parenting style isn’t made with a conscious decision. For a family-oriented culture like the Filipinos, natural parenting seems to be an obvious default. Besides, our ancestors have been doing something similar for centuries before us.
The Principles Are Not Hard Fast Rules
Attachment Parenting International identifies 8 principles of parenting. These attachment parenting principles are guidelines on how to practice the natural parenting method. Still, the parents have the freedom on how they would interpret and apply it to their family.
Principles are there to guide us. Every child is different. So, what worked for the eldest child may not compatible with the younger one. It is important to adapt and adjust our parenting style to fit the need of the situation and that of the child.
It All Comes Down to Love
As every child is different, so are the parents. We may express our love, care, and affection differently from our partners or other family members. It doesn’t mean that we love them any less.
For most parents, we love our children even before we’ve held them in our arms. It is normal for us to want the best for them and provide their needs. The natural parenting method echoes that desire.
There are attachment parenting pros and cons but so does other alternative parenting styles. Regardless of what you decide on, always remember one thing. Your parenting style, whether natural parenting method or another, should be grounded in love.
Author Bio
Kate Jam Placido is a perpetual daydreamer who takes a break from being a mother by weaving words. She is an accountant by profession and a former teacher. She decided to become a freelancer for her only son. She shares her creative writing outputs at Randomly Creative.
Leta says
Attachment or natural parenting was the only parenting style that made sense to us. The principles really work for our family.