Stand Proud Mamas! WE are the normal ones!!

Until recently, I was the co-leader of a very large West Coast chapter of the Holistic Moms Network.  Time after time, new members would tell me how glad they were to have found our group.  They said they were tired of being the "weird" parent who breastfed past baby's first year.  They were tired of being criticized by family and friends for co-sleeping.  They were tired of going to school and sports events and having other parents look at them funny when they didn't allow their child to eat the neon-purple cupcakes. They were grateful to have found us because Holistic Moms gave them a place to fit in.

Most parents who practice attachment parenting and natural family living can probably relate to these moms.  Perhaps you, yourself, have been harassed by a family member because you deign to nurse your baby past age one? Perhaps you've been given a condescending lecture (or two or five) by your child's pediatrician for having the gall to question the wisdom of all, or certain, vaccinations? Perhaps you've bravely nursed your child in public and suffered ignorant comments or scathing looks? Worse yet, perhaps you've been told to cover up because "no one needs to see that?"

Fellow mama-in-the-trenches - I say to you (insert my bold voice and fist raised in righteous support here):  There is absolutely nothing weird about you.  There is nothing for you to be ashamed of.  There is nothing that you should be hiding.  What you are doing - the way you are parenting - is something to celebrate! BE PROUD!! You are a trailblazer.  With every action you take to parent responsively, and lovingly, you are changing lives.  You are changing the life of your child - who was greatly blessed to have come into this life with you as her parent.  You are changing the life of your childrens' children, and ALL future generations that come after them.  You are changing the lives of everyone who comes in contact with you and can see, and hear, about the way you are parenting.

Every time you nurse in public,  every time you tell people you share a family bed, every time you feed your child a healthy, organic lunch while other parents feed their children Lunchables - you are teaching.  You are affecting change! Your actions, while they may initially be scorned or mocked or misunderstood - will, at some level, get into people's brains and make them think.  In fact, if you have made someone mad or uncomfortable simply by parenting in a natural and loving way,  BE PROUD, because you affected them.  One day - after being exposed to these ideas enough times - they will change.

Remember friends - WE are the normal ones.  We use our breasts for what nature intended them.  We share a family bed to protect, and provide love to our children - just like eons of humans have, and will continue to.  We carry our babes close to our bodies so that they may be warm and safe.  We feed our children the most natural, healthy food unsoiled by toxins.  We are normal because we parent the way nature intended.  

Societal change only occurs if we stand proudly and publicly for what we believe in.   SO BE PROUD!! Don't hide the way you parent.  Nurse in public and (gasp!) don't cover yourself up.  Tell people proudly that you share the family bed and absolutely love it.  Wear your baby or toddler in a sling and explain when asked how great they are for bonding.  Intervene in conversations - both written and in person - when other parents are extolling the virtues of cry it out.

You are a trailblazer, a hero, a champion.  I applaud you, I celebrate you, and I'm glad to be one of your sisters.