One thing I am no stranger to is unwanted advice on parenting. But when a nurse from the public health system tries to tell me I am doing everything wrong when I am only following God and my baby's cues, well that just turns my key! Martin and I follow the attachment parenting style, which is not using clocks and calendars to decide when to feed our baby or the "new fad of the day". Our latest dilemma is what to do if he seems like he wants to eat at five or five and a half months and our pediatrician agrees... What do you do? Should we go with the doc's advice and baby's cues and start solids before six months, or do we listen to the "fad WHO advice" and wait until six months. But if we do choose to wait then we need to see our sweet boy be hungry and cranky. I guess we will just have to wait and see how he is doing food wise in the next month or so.
Today's battle with the bottle was an awful experience. Because I am due back at school this May we tried to get him used to take the bottle. Well, that won't be happening... He practically screams when he sees the thing! Finally, after not eating almost all day I nursed him. I felt so much better after listening to my instincts and not using the advice to get him on the bottle that has been forced at us for the past few months by everyone including our doctor. And while nursing, Zacharie himself settled more than he had all day. Afterwards, he was able to take his first sips out of a cup! Now, Martin is devoting himself to looking for Zee's cues and learning what to watch for. After he has learnt what to look for, he is going to work with him to drink momma milk from a cup once a day and slowly work up to a bit more. And I promise my baby that I will not take away his night and evening nursings, to let him enjoy a long nurse session in the morning before I leave, and to devote every moment I have with him to be the most wonderful moments. If I have to be away from him, I am going to make every moment I have with him the best. Snuggles, stories, naps together, walks, singing, playing, talking... These are the moments I will cherish. These things and more are things that I have been called to do by God. Martin and I have prayed for months, even during pregnancy, for guidance in parenting our children that way He (God) wants. Today, I realized that we have been raising him right the whole time. Godlike parenting is attachment parenting, or at least a small portion of it. He does not want us to ignore our babies cries, or to not hold them... He wants us to love unconditionally and wholly. Who cares if our baby gets up to nurse several times at night... If he wants to snuggle and nurse, I say let him! If he needs that, I will gladly indulge him. Today, I have realized that I am a great momma. And I couldn't be happier!