Welcome to the second edition of the "I'm a Natural Parent - BUT..." Carnival
This post was written for inclusion in the carnival hosted by The Artful Mama and our feminist {play}school. During this carnival our participants have focused on how mainstream society has affected their natural parenting and how they have come to peace with this.
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Our Elimination Communication journey with Spencer has been amazing! I love it! I do get annoyed for night time EC, though. Once we found our groove during the day, he started insisting on being pottied at night, even when he doesn't actually want to go. He can't settle or stay asleep when he needs to go. He will toss and turn and fidget before eventually peeing in the bed. His wiggling is enough to wake me.
I figured all this out because he would wiggle, I would nurse him "back to sleep" and put him back down. Just as I would doze back off, he would start to wiggle again. It wasn't milk he needed, it was an empty bladder.
Here is how it plays out these days: wriggle, toss, turn, then my sudden realization that if I don't take him to potty he will pee all over myself and the bed. Sometimes I let him nurse a bit before taking him to the sink. At the sink, he slumps down, asleep. Or he fusses. But with some water running, maybe even a toe dipped into some cool water, he pees. Then he nurses. Oh, but don't count this boy out just yet! He needs to pee again! And nurse again... then, and only then, can he settle back in to sleep.
And if I don't wake up enough in time? If he has to wake completely up for this process, he thinks it is time to be up and active! I basically have to wait an hour before he will go back to sleep.
This is a solid enough routine that I do actually let him sleep naked. Around 5 in the morning, I put on his diaper. I'm not the quickest to wake for that actual morning time and he doesn't really wriggle when he wakes for the day. He just lies there, happy, and pees.
I do "fair to midland" at catching during the day. Some days he can stay naked and I catch nearly every pee. Other days I am just not on top of it and he has to wear a diaper. I still try to catch, but it is good to have the back up.
When we go out, he always wears a diaper. Still, if I offer a pottytunity when we arrive and/or leave each destination, we do very well. But then you have doctor appointments. I recently took Spencer for his cardiology appointment. It always lasts 1-2 hours. He was asleep when we arrived, so I just carried him into the building (rather than letting him pee in the parking lot).
Spencer, swaddled for his EKG in April.
I prefer the guy that lets him wiggle.
It took a little effort to get him to stay still for his EKG. Then it hit me - he needs to pee. I won't generally take him while we're at an appointment. I try to think of it like Sasha needing to pee. Their need to empty their bladders are no different, he just has more fabric between his legs. I did take Spencer between the EKG and the next part of our appointment, but I should have taken him sooner.
If that had been a 3yo wriggling through an EKG, I am sure I would have asked for a potty break. But because Spencer was wearing a diaper, I didn't. I'm trying to get better about it - it is a constant thing, right? We're always striving to be better parents.
Do you have any places or people around whom you let some part of your parenting slide?
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This carnival was created by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. We recognize that "natural parenting" means different things to different families, and we are dedicated to providing a safe place for all families, regardless of where they are in their parenting journeys.Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
- I'm a Natural Parent- BUT... - Carrie at Frugal Foodie Mama says "We breastfeed. We co-sleep. We babywear. But we do not cloth diaper. This post is about my reasons why I haven't, and why I would still like to try it."
- Am I Really a Natural Parent? - Valerie at Momma in Progress confesses maybe she's a bit more mainstream than she thought.
- I'm a Crunchy Mama, BUT... - Shannon at GrowingSlower has learned that her food doesn't grow on grocery store shelves, but she still has a long way to go.
- I'm a Natural Parent, but...my kid loves a screen - Lyndsay owns her son's love for television programming, ipad and apps.
- Ashamed to Breastfeed - Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World talks about how she was ashamed and intimidated to breastfeed in public.
- When they gotta go... - Jorje of Momma Jorje shares her EC weakness...
- Love For the Mainstream - Amy W. explains how letting a mainstream family into her life increased her self-awareness, and helps her to maintain balance while advocating for natural parenting.
- Weaning My Nursling - Alisha at Cinnamon&Sassafras reflects on her decision to wean her son, rather than waiting for him to decide.
- I'm a Natural Parent But...My Toddler is a Junk Food Junkie - Chanisa at City Girl Slash Hippie Mom talks about how she's trying to get her two year old to have healthier eating habits
- I'm a Natural Parent - But...I'm Socially Awkward - Shannon of The Artful Mama talks about the difficulties she experiences maintaining her conviction when she experiences social resistance.
- Holding onto connection when traveling - Lauren at Hobo Mama wants to respect her children rather than demand obedience … but it's so hard around family.
- What would the neighbours think?! - Teresa at This Savvy Mama talks about the pressures of balancing life skills with the realities of having two young children.
- French Fries and Diaper Blowouts - Arpita hosts a guest post detailing how, just every once in a while, the chaos of running a business can hamper even the most regimented natural parenting plans, and the sometimes messy (and stinky!) consequences!
- Confessions of a mostly natural parent - Jessica of Crunchy Chewy Mama feels good about many of the choices she makes but there are things she wants her kids to do, practice, and believes that she is not modeling for them.
