I can tell I'm in a funk when I start censoring all my own blog post ideas. That one is too bitchy. That other one--too personal. They'd never like to hear about that. Or--a big one--they will see the REAL ME if I write that, horrors. I wouldn't want that other idea all over the internet. That one has been done a million times. Another cute Hugo story? Blah blah, everybody's kids are cute. Swine flu? I'm actually qualified to talk about that one but only sort of, and public health is one of my favorite topics, but bah. And so the silence continues. I have, like, blog laryngitis.
So how about I tell you how my mother's friend was visiting, and she's a play therapist, and she thinks Hugo is the poster child for attachment parenting and asked me all kinds of questions like about how we have done it. And mostly I really don't think we have done much, but the one thing that I seriously think has made a difference is our family bed (I KNOW! Too much information! I probably just cut my blog audience from 4 to 2, like when Oprah endorsed Obama and her audience shrank from 10 gajillion to 5 gajillion). And she was all, you have to blog about that. People need to know. And I was all, ha ha, no. Bor-ing. And then another friend emailed asking about our experiences and her relief nearly dripped out of my computer because she finally felt validated about cosleeping with her infant and she didn't know anyone else who admits to it except me. And even then, I'm all, no, I won't write about that.
So how about this? THIS made me feel like a good mother, today. I made a KALE SMOOTHIE and he loved it. Oh Lord, that sounds annoying. How can you stand me? I want to go for a cheeseburger or something just to counteract the kale thing. But it sure was cute.
And that concludes this episode of The Anxious Liberal Mother Chronicles. Oh my heavens.
22 comments:
Oh, I do that too (not attachment parenting, but the self-censoring). But I found that I lose more readers when I'm tongue tied than when I'm posting without my muzzle. Still it kind of sucks because, well the more you post, the more you open yourself up for judgment, right? But I'd like reading about all that stuff, especially since you'd be the author. Because I like to read your writing.
P.S. Will you post the kale smoothie recipe?
OK that's it I'm outta here. I hate you cuz your kid loves kale smoothies. Oh wait--he's how old? No, I'll stick around. The very first time Elliot tried the following all-American foods--peanut butter, cheeseburgers, pizza--he hated them, and at the time he loved Nancy's plain yogurt and green beans, but it didn't last and he turned into a junk-food freak at 8 but now, at 13, he's really growing out of the freak part but he still would hate a kale smoothie. So good luck, that's all I'm saying.
I'd love for you to write about co-sleeping, but I understand why you don't want to.
You captured blog burnout so well in this post.
Blog laryngitis. I love it.
And I completely get it.
Blog laryngitis. Awesome. I've had a case of that lately. Especially when after a couple of "mommy blog"-like posts, my father called, and said, "Are you OK?" Apparently the mommy-honesty, while theraputic for me and my mommy readers (er, I THINK so, anyway), was a bit disconcerting for a non-mommy to read. Sorry, folks!
In other news....it took me until my third kid to fully embrace co-sleeping. I never slept so well...! WHY didn't I do that with the other two!? Please write about it--if you dare!
And yes, please post the kale smoothie recipe. I'm intrigued.
The thing about you is you're not preachy--you're amusing.
The family bed was NOT for me, but I can see how it would work for some. I kept my babies with me for about 8 months, but they started out in their cribs.
I'm getting a bit tired of people who think their way is the ONLY way. Different parents and different kids need different arrangements.
I'm very impressed with the Kale smoothie.
A KALE SMOOTHIE?! I'm speechless. And even more speechless that he's smiling about it.
I can't believe he liked a kale smoothie. How in the world did you manage to make him like that? Never mind about the co-sleeping and the attachment thing, it's the smoothie I want to know about. Would I like it?
you are so cute, and funny...
I self censor too.
When we got custody of Genny she had a severe attachment disorder. Because of our situation, and her past, co-sleeping wasn't an option but we did a ton of attachment therapy. we do use our bed a lot though. when she's sick she stays there. We have family meetings on our bed. She LOVES our bed and it boosts her morale so much whenever she gets to be in it/on it...
I can't believe it even occurred to you to make a kale smoothie. Is that, like, a common drink in Seattle?
Second: HOW did you get him to wear SUNGLASSES? I live in the sunniest place on earth and my kids would rather go blind than wear sunglasses.
As I've mentioned, my mom was a huge believer in the Family Bed. My Mom got a lot of "criticism" - it just "wasn't done." Or it was, it wasn't talked about. I'd love to hear more about it.
And self-censoring is the reason I post so infrequently. It's a bummer really.
I didn't do the cosleeping thing, but know people who have and think there are plenty out there who would love to hear about your experiences with it.
Our family bed days are some of my most treasured. Four people lined up like sausages--it really was a magical time.
OK, tell me this. How do you keep Hugo from poking your eyes and ears, and pulling your hair, prying apart your lips, and kneading your tummy with his little feet all night long, because that's what co-sleeping with Maddie is all about. She's like, "Yes! My keepers are prone and defenseless! Now I get to perform those octo-audio-otolaryngologic exams I've been dreaming of!" And of course I've neglected to trim her fingernails so owwwwwww....
I so relate to the being Another Anxious Liberal Mother...plastic angst? Yup. Organic, local food? That one too. Co-sleeping? Oh yes!
We angsted over co-sleeping for such a long time and it was a happy relief to embrace it. And now that she's sleeping mostly in her own bed (at 2), that's good too although I will miss waking up to her talking to us & her lovies. (I don't miss being kicked although sometimes I could position myself to get some kinks in my back worked out).
And...please, please post that kale smoothie recipe!
Blog laryngitis, that is apt. In my case, maybe it's more like blog constipation. Same difference. Nothing comes out.
And yes, as planetnomad says, kids taste buds go through distinct phases. Two of my kids were such adventurous vegetable eaters as little kids. At 7 and 8 years? Picky, picky. Right now, in their tweens, the picky factor is meat. None of my kids like chicken, unless it's chicken nuggets. Anyway, what an excellent thing, a kid who likes kale in any shape or form. He's getting some excellent nutrition. Yay.
As for the healthy attachment? It takes more than co-sleeping (and doesn't require co-sleeping, my opinion). Meaning, you are doing plenty of good things in lots and lost of areas. Bravo to you. Bravo for your little guy.
I've written over 700 posts and I am starting to think that might be all that's in me.
Well, I have other ideas, but the censorship is strong in this one.
Kale smoothies though? I love those. I started making my own after becoming anemic and it blends well with fruit and rice milk. Good for you for introducing it early...
You could be like me, and talk about all your bleeding heart liberal parenting ideals, and then admit how you yelled at your kids while publishing your post. :)
[[I'm sick of myself, too. Not you.]]
I echo what a few other have said. It's so much what you're saying but the way you say it. And you do have a way... so please keep talking. :)
As the others said, you have described the problem that bloggers have with self-censorship very well. I think my case of blog laryngitis is compounded by the media's current slant on blogging and social networking. There seems to be a big push to put your real name and info on all your profiles and to conduct yourself as though your future employer is going to read it. I'm not posting about any wild keg parties I've been to, but I don't want my boss to read about my pity-party posts, either!
Tell your friend that we coslept too! (Off and on, not so much with son as with daughter, my son liked to sleep alone as a baby and wiggled diagonally too much as he was older). Even now, my daughter is nearly 4 and she still comes in in the mornings when she wakes up to snuggle for 30 minutes or so until we get up. I love every moment. How can their heads smell so good? And when they were infants and breastfeeding? Cosleeping was HEAVEN. SO much easier than getting up and going to the crib.
A website she might like is www.thecowgoddess.com. She only reposts older posts now, but all her little comics are great. She also cosleeps (with three children, school-aged!). I used to read her site all the time when my kids were little.
Kale in a smoothie. Yum! Go you!
The co-sleeping doesn't bother me, but that kale smoothie kind of freaks me out. LOL. ;)
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