Let go of the lies
When you abandon the lies of childhood and dismiss the biased expectations, you’ll find freedom. Freedom to do what is best for you, your child, and your entire family.
Sleeping arrangements is one of the hottest topics and one that I feel very deeply about because the deep dark truth is that in all of my years of parenting – and three children later – I’ve never owned a crib.
At first, various relatives scoffed at my decisions and even offered hand-me-down cribs, and when I declined, I was met with question after question. Armed with solid research and a mama’s instincts, I stood my ground.
What we perceive as the “norm” isn’t always the best or what’s right. In fact, it’s a lot harder to go against the current of the societal norm.
Think about it. Why does it feel so safe and secure to snuggle your toddler in your bed? Because you are his mama, and you were always meant to be a constant source of comfort to your child. You are the sun, and he is your moon, out on his own yet using you as his guiding light.
Sleeping arrangements aren’t the only lie that society feeds us. While it’s essential to discipline (which means “to teach”) your children, it is not necessary to punish them. Punishment leads to resentment and negativity, which can damage your parent-child relationship.
While peaceful parenting aims to solve conflicts in a – you guessed it – peaceful manner, it absolutely does not mean that this is the easy way out. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to stifle a yell, you know that talking in a calm voice is much (MUCH!) harder than giving in to a yell.
Whatever lies you’ve been told, whatever lies are holding you back from feeling confident in yourself as a parent? It’s time to let go of those lies and embrace your own parenting journey.
Thinking back to my early playdates with my oldest son, I remember how I felt when I didn’t quite fit into the “mainstream” mothers in the group. Years later, I’m wise enough to know that it’s okay to not quite fit the mold.
Kathryn is a self-proclaimed book nerd who has a passion for natural parenting and writing. As a homeschooling mother of three, Kathryn understands the dynamics of a busy family life. She is the founder of the Cor Domum community, a mission that guides families through life so that they can parent with joy. Read more at www.katietrudeau.com
