tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218426698401036731.post8554933858184770169..comments2008-11-28T17:57:54.951-08:00Lauren @ Hobo Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218426698401036731.post-16806238092465814152008-11-28T17:57:00.000-08:002008-11-28T17:57:00.000-08:00"Unparenting" -- I love it!<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I find I often write (for my own sake as much as for others') in all-or-nothing terms, sort of to shock me to a new point of view. I envision a middle balance, somewhere between neglecting the kids and obsessing over them, and I see that our culture is more on the obsessing end, so when I read about something like Idle Parenting, I think -- just the crazy idea to nudge us toward that healthy middle. You know?<BR/><BR/>But I do mourn that there aren't more arms to hold babies, more kids to run around with...and at the same time, I value our independence as a little family of three. So, there you are! You can do only so much with what you have. Certainly it would be cruel to purposely ignore your kid all day when you're all he has to interact with.<BR/><BR/>Ah, but the drinking without guilt... We just had a nice wine with Thanksgiving dinner, and I didn't feel bad at all.<BR/><BR/>P.S. Now that Mikko's walking and I'm all excited, my mom's already started in on "But is he talking any more yet?" I guess that's the next thing I'm supposed to "teach" him. lolHobo Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9218426698401036731.post-12029639721321120142008-11-25T17:05:00.000-08:002008-11-25T17:05:00.000-08:00In my group, we like to call this idea "unparenting," after the whole idea of "unschooling." Ha ha ha.<BR/><BR/>My problem with this is that we do NOT have a society where it's okay for kids to hang around places where adults do their work, AND then there's the whole "paranoia about safety" issue where since no one lets their kids play by themselves, it's no longer really safe to let your kid play by himself. (At the park, for example. If there were lots of kids playing there, it would be safe, but if it's only my kid...scary!)<BR/><BR/>Anyway. It's definitely food for thought for all those people that worried about James ever pottying, eating like an adult, sleeping through the night, sleeping in his own bed, playing without being near me, staying with a relative, etc...we just let him do his thing and eventually, he did. =)<BR/><BR/>I especially like the "we drink alcohol without guilt" part of this parenting philosophy. I am totally there already. ;)Susana la Bananahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01625149392915396947noreply@blogger.com