10.21.2009

Doing The "Right" Thing Is Never Easy.

Baby knows best. Really. They are perhaps not scholars just yet, but they do know what they need better than any of us and well, we should listen to them. And, if we would listen they would probably say . . . that doing the "right" thing is never easy.

Like when you were a kid and were forced to apologize and admit error--it was the "right" thing to do, but it was so hard to say that you were wrong. Or, choosing to skip a party in order to study instead of cheating on a final exam in high school. Studying was hard work, but it was "right", right?

I've come to the conclusion, or even grand epiphany perhaps, that doing the "right" thing as a parent is also not the easier choice. I came to this conclusion after struggling once again following sleepless nights and clingy days with the attachment parenting philosophy that we have adopted as parents. The attachment parenting tenets are simple really and were so appealing to us initially because they essentially support the beliefs that we already held about parenting. To us, AP principles just seem like no-brainers: go to your child when he cries--he needs you, breastfeed your baby--it's food that's literally made for him, sleep with your child--because you are a parent at night too, use positive discipline to teach your child--negativity punishes, hold and wear your baby--it fosters bonding and security, etc.

Even rereading these as I type them, I find myself nodding in agreement--unable to imagine parenting any other way. But problems arise for this gentle parenting scenario not from any inherent flaws in a plan that seeks to parent gently and respectfully, but from other parents who have found an "easier" way. See, this kind of parenting requires a mom and dad who are fully committed to sacrificing much of their own needs for that of their baby's. In other words, it takes dedication and patience--a lot, a lot of patience--and a great deal of self-sacrifice.

I am specifically talking about the issue of nighttime sleeping. Fewer issues get as much airtime during playdates, mommy groups, or any other gathering of moms and babies--it's simply at the heart of every discussion. Exhausted, delirious and desperate mommies eagerly compare notes and exchange sleep tricks in search of something that will help them get more sleep. And, no matter how you try and spin it or how much you try to avoid the inevitable final conclusion, the sleep issue comes down to two dismal options: "sleep training" your baby, or not.

Sleep training methods vary greatly from one to another, but the one thing that they all have in common is that they all include some degree of crying. I have written before about my feelings as they pertain to "crying it out" and though that was many sleepless months ago, I still do have a problem with my baby crying--yes, I've said it, I do not let my baby cry without intervening in an effort to alleviate the cause whatever that cause may be. Why? Because I believe that my son is communicating with us when he is crying--I do not believe that babies cry just to cry, in other words. Sometime this communication may be asking for basic needs to be met and other times it may just be a way to ask for a hug, a cuddle, or a kiss. But, you see, one does not surpass the other in importance for me. My baby's need to be touched is just as importance as his need to be fed or changed. I will respond in either case and at any time. And that is where myself and my husband diverge from the parents who try to sell us the success of sleep training and tout the amount of sleep that it has brought them. But, at what cost, I want to ask them.

I believe family bed advocates when they claim that co-sleeping raises independent, confident and secure children--I also believe that leaving your baby to fend for them self during these times of nighttime need may produce children who are more dependent, anxious and insecure. I also know that these one or two or three years dealing with his sleeplessness as a baby is small in scale when compared to the number of years that we won't have to. I will be old and he will no longer by my baby--I will look back on these years with a tender heart yearning for the moments when I was able to hold him in my arms to return.

I do, however, from time to time grow weak--very weak. I do whine and fuss and complain about exhaustion and the need for a moment to myself. During these times I do momentarily wonder if we should not also "train" Noah to self soothe, to sleep alone, to quiet his need for love, comfort and affection just because it is the moon, not the sun, that has risen above the horizon. Those parents are convincing and proud. They're confident and I suppose, maybe even some look rested.

But, then I give it a second thought. I listen to my heart and am reminded of why I have chosen the more challenging path. When I grow weak and weary, I turn a listening ear to my instinct, my mama gut--and find that I know deep down in my heart that parenting this way, for me, is the "right" way to parent. And, like all things that are "right" it is most certainly the more difficult choice--it may continue to be for a while still to come. But . . . doing the "right" thing is never easy, right?

7 comments:

Jennifer said...

what a seriously perfect post to wake up to this a.m. after so many nights of no sleep... this mama is TIRED. you know the kind of tired where you just feel sick to your stomach because you are lacking that much sleep? oh yes. tired. about 430 this a.m. i told my husband "we have to do SOMETHING! i can't do this any more. i feel horrible." this... after, day after day, of having to hold & bounce my babe to sleep the entire night long. uuuuuuugh. you are so right though. it is not easy. but whoever said this parenting thing was easy? it is just the beginning of not so easy's in the life of mama-ing. sending hugs and zzzzzzzzz's. and thanks for the post. so, so good to know i am not the only one struggling. not that i want you to be struggling. just a bit of validation always feels refreshing!

Azra Momin said...

Oh Joni, it will get better, it really will. Our SnuggleBug is turning two and a half soon, and still wakes up, but not eight times like she used to. We just avoid talking about our sleep philosophy with others, since there are so many dissenters around.

Natural parenting is very hard, but also extremely easy - it leaves your conscience clear! What's better than knowing you're there for your baby at all times?

I've felt frazzled many, many times, but it's still worth it.

That's not to say mommies don't need some alone time :)

Rosanna =) said...

Joni,
This post made my eyes well up! I hear ya. I am tired of hearing people tell me how "well" sleep training worked for their baby.

I love reading your blogs because I think you are a WONDERFUL mother and I have learned so much from you!

j o n i said...

Thanks mamas for the support--both in kind words and in sharing that you are going through or went through similar sleepytime struggles.

Just as good as it feels to write it all out--building a reminder that I can return to and read in times of weakness--it also feels good when other moms commiserate.

Azra, as great as it is to hear you have survived and are positive at 2.5 years, I was also a little unsettled to hear that your little one is still waking up! lol! Oie! I guess we really are in it for the long haul!

Jennifer, I am so touched to hear that my post helped you. I couldn't think of any greater gift that my blog could bring--I feel even more blessed to share that your musing and beautiful photos do so equally for me.

And Rosanna, I am not sure I am deserving of your kind words--but I thank you for them. If anything, they certainly will make me strive to reach the high bar that you have set for me!

With great strength and patience may we all proceed forward together in this great challenge and adventure of natural parenting!

O'Brien said...

our family has spent the same nights struggling, mainly over what to try and what not to try. I just had to stop talking about it with everyone and realize that it is a blessing!!

I have a couple of ideas though...

This book includes sections on co-sleeping and focuses on breastfeeding, I found it helpful when my 1 year old reached a point where I knew she was ready to sleep through the night....it took 1 night of some (5 minutes at most) crying for her to sleep for 12 hours....she now does regularly but breastfeeds more during the day.

Good night, sleep tight : the Sleep Lady's gentle guide to helping your child go to sleep, stay asleep, and wake up happy / Kim West with Joanne Kenen.

Also, check out the website http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/sortacrunchy/
they are writing a book about being a mother the first year of life and it is very supportive!!!!

Christie - Childhood 101 said...

I also have never felt comfortable leaving Immy to cry, especially at night. We have never used sleep training but she does sleep in a cot in her own room and has since she was about 5 weeks old. We have always stayed with her as she goes off to sleep and get up to comfort her on the occasion that she awakens during the night.

I think its about being responsive to your child's needs and I am tired of hearing about this sleep solution or that one, there is no solution. Babies sleep patterns are different to adults expectations, maybe this is more of an issue for our generation than our mothers or grandmothers as more women are forced to work?

Thanks for letting me rant!

Johanna said...

Great post Joni,
There are so many theories and beliefs out there. In the end I think the best one is what ever works best for you or myself as the parent. We know our children best and know what is best for them.

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