I’m a Parenting Inspiration, Who Knew!

Before stumbling on OneStarryNight, I had some ideas about how I wanted to raise my future children. I’ve always been firm about breastfeeding and I’ve always been interested in homeschooling my kids. But after reading through OSN (and yes, I did go back to the very beginning to read all the posts), I was opened up to a whole new world of parenting I had never been exposed to.

Since then I’ve delved into natural parenting and have even reached out to Sarah to get links to other websites so that I could learn even more. All of Sarah’s stories have affected me in some way, shape or form, and have inspired me not only to learn about NP but also to adopt it.

What I love most of all is the fact that every line is genuine, and even when she thinks she’s rambling, she’s making a point and being honest. There are very few bloggers out there that have actually had an impact on my life and Sarah is my favorite of them.

Well let me just say that attachment parenting seems to come as second nature to you. If you ask me, you were born to be an attachment parent. I just can’t see you “mothering” your children any other way. Your boys are your world. Your blog posts and tweets have made that perfectly clear.

As far as breastfeeding goes, you are one of the first breastfeeding women I met on Twitter. I used to sit in my rocking chair in the nursery at night, feeding Alana and reading breastfeeding tweets on Twitter. I sat in the background for a while, like a fly on the wall until one day I built up the courage to open up about my breastfeeding struggles. I remember that you were so positive and supportive. Again, the fact that breastfeeding comes as second nature to you is just inspiring.

I think that your parenting style and desire to breastfeed your son until he self-weans is just absolutely beautiful. From the co-sleeping, baby wearing and breastfeeding…you’re just all kinds of awesome.

You showed me the benefit of cloth diapering. That the baby rash from the hospital using their disposable diapers went away immediately once we started using cloth.

You’ve shown me how breastmilk is superior, like when your niece got us all sick, the baby merely slept a bit more that was it. He didn’t even get sick! All from the breastfeeding! That even how some of the doctors at the hospital because he was slow gaining, were pressuring to give him formula, you knew that he only needed breastmilk, that he was a sleepy baby, and here he is now, a massive healthy 7month old!

You showed me the research and ingredients behind vaccinations and how a lot of the time the big businesses/doctors out there take the good intention behind a vaccination into something that is purely motivated by money.

I don’t blame people for being mainstream, because people don’t know any better. They blindly follow their doctors’ opinion or don’t do their own research. They may not have the time/ability/DESIRE to learn more about their choices and how they impact their children.

How doctors can tell people that vaccinations are 100% perfect with no repercussions, that formula is “just as good” as breastmilk, KNOWING that’s not true, just to make a few dollars is crazy to me.

You’ve inspired me to do my own research because of how strongly you feel about attachment parenting. You’ve inspired me to appreciate and learn on a daily basis.

I really do like how you use the sling for the baby. I’ve always wanted to do that when I had kids but you really don’t see it very much.

Also, until you I thought that the traditional method of sleeping, your child in a crib was really the only way. I never thought of keeping the baby in the bed with me at all. It makes sense. You want your baby to grow up comfortably. You can get to him faster if he’s crying if he’s next to you. I don’t get why people let their children cry without going to comfort them. Babies get stressed out from that, don’t they?

It seems more natural to keep your child close to you. I don’t know if this helps. I’ve had babies on my mind for awhile and I’ve been thinking about how i would do things. Definitely after hearing about these methods, I would really consider doing things the way you do.

Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants!

• Woman Seeking Inspiration
  Seeking Mother’s struggles and joys to find her own path in motherhood have inspired others to her surprise!
  (@seekingmother )
• Paving the Way
  Jessica at This is Worthwhile makes a conscious effort every day to be a role model.
  (@tisworthwhile )
• No Rules Without Reason
  The Recovering Procrastinator wants to inspire her husband to discipline their children gently.
  (@jenwestpfahl)
• Creating a Culture of Positive Parenting Role Models
  Michelle at The Parent Vortex shows parents at the playground how to do a front wrap cross carry and tells nurses about her successful home births, as a way of modeling natural parenting in public.
  (@TheParentVortex)
• Making A Difference for Mamas
  Shana at Tales of Minor Interest took an embarrassing pumping incident at work and turned it into an opportunity for all the employees who breastfeed.
• Inspiring Snowflakes
  Joni Rae at Tales of Kitchen Witch Momma is a role model for the most important people: her children.
  (@kitchenwitch)
• Paying it Forward
  Amber at Strocel.com inspires new (and often scared) mamas with these simple words: “It will be OK.”
  (@AmberStrocel)
• A SAHD’s View on Parenting Role Models
  Chris at Stay At Home Dad in Lansing doesn’t have many role models as a SAHD
  but hopes to be one to his daughter.
  (@tessasdad)
• Am I a Role Model? A Review
  Deb at Science@home brings attachment parenting out of the baby age and shows how it applies (with science fun!) to parenting through all of childhood.
  (@ScienceMum)
• Say Something Good
  Arwyn at Raising My Boychick reminds women that it is within our right to be proud of ourselves without apology.
  (@RaisingBoychick)
• Try, Try Again
  Thomasin at Propson Palingenesis wants to inspire like the Little Engine that Could.
• I’m a Parenting Inspiration, Who Knew?
  Sarah at OneStarryNight has received several beautiful comments about just what an inspiration she has been, if not in real life then definitely online.
  (@starrymom)
• That Little Thing
  NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing demonstrates the ripple effect, one status update at a time.
  (@BlkWmnDoBF)
• How Has Your Day Been?
  mrs green @ littlegreenblog inspired her friend to be an active listener for her children.
  (@myzerowaste)
• No, Thank You!
  If you are reading Maman A Droit’s post, you’ve probably inspired her.
  (@MamanADroit)
• My Top 3 Natural Parenting Principles
  Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now describes how her family’s natural and Montessori principles inspired others.
  (@DebChitwood)
• My Hope for a Better Life
  Mandy at Living Peacefully With Children hopes her choices inspire her children toward a better life.
• Natural Parenting Felt Natural
  Sheryl at Little Snowflakes didn’t plan on natural parenting
  but her son led her there.
  (@sheryljesin)

• Rest. Is it even possible?
  Janet at where birth and feminism intersect has found that even role models need rest
  and that there are ways to fit it into everyday parenting life.
  (@feministbirther)
• May Carnival of Natural Parenting: Role model
  Lauren at Hobo Mama was the fortunate recipient of a seed of inspiration, and has been privileged to plant some of those seeds herself, though she didn’t know it at the time.
  (@Hobo_Mama)
• crunchspiration
  the grumbles at grumbles and grunts wants to inspire others to parent from their heart.
  (@thegrumbles)
• No Extra Inspiration Required
  Zoey at Good Goog doesn’t think she inspires anyone and wasn’t inspired by anyone in return
  except by her daughter.
  (@zoeyspeak)
• Upstream Parenting
  Luschka at Diary of a First Child blogs for that one mother in one hundred who will find her words helpful.
  (@diaryfirstchild)
• Parenting Advice for the Girl from Outer Space
  If Mommy Soup at Cream of Mommy Soup could give one piece of inspirational advice to new parents, it would be to parent with kindness.
  (@MommySoup)
• Natural Parenting Carnival
  Role Model
  Sarah at Consider Eden feels the pressure at trying
  and failing
  to live up to her role models.
  (@ConsiderEden)
• May Carnival of Natural Parenting: Role Model
  Dionna at Code Name: Mama encourages natural parenting mamas to take joy in the fact that they are touching lives and making a difference to children every day.
  (@CodeNameMama)
• Inspiration Goes Both Ways
  Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! is flustered that people consider her a breastfeeding role model
  but the lovely comments she’s received prove it’s so.
  (@bfmom)
• My Seven
  Danielle at born.in.japan has identified seven role models in her life who brought her to natural parenting. Who are your seven?
  (@borninjp)
• A Quiet Example
  Alison at BluebirdMama was one of the first parents in her group of friends
  and has come to see almost all those friends follow in her natural birthing footsteps, whether intentionally or not.
• Gentle Discipline Warrior
  Paige at Baby Dust Diaries has inspired a gentle discipline movement
  join her!
  (@babydust)
• Change The World… One Parent At A Time
  Mamapoekie is more comfortable inspiring parents online than she is in real life.
  (@mamapoekie)
• Inspirational Parenting
  pchanner at A Mom’s Fresh Start has intentionally tried to be a role model but was unprepared for how soon someone would take notice.
  (@pchanner)
• My Inspiration
  Erin at A Beatnik’s Beat on Life has written thank-you letters to everyone who’s inspired her to become the lactivist and natural parenting advocate she is today.
  (@babybeatnik)