Natural Parenting

In addition to being a large, feminist, school-free family you could also call us attachment parents. For us, natural/attachment parenting is the path of least resistance. It comes easily and suits our family. It comes naturally, you might say.

We babywear because it's practical and makes getting stuff done easier with a baby/toddler.

We homebirth for a billion different reasons, but to summarise: homebirthing eradicates a plethora or unnecessary drama from the birth process and promotes bonding (for mother and baby but also between siblings and the new baby, Dad and bub and Mum and Dad).

Sazz breastfeeds beyond toddlerhood, until the child is emotionally ready to wean, as negotiated with Sazz. Before toddlerhood, our children are breastfed whenever and wherever they feel they need.

Ealesy does the lions' share of nighttime parenting, cosleeping between the two middle children in one large bed and responding to them througout the night should they wake. Sazz cosleeps with the youngest in another bed, feeding and changing throughout the night.

We strive to provide gentle guidance as opposed to discipline to our children, though this is by far the biggest challenge attachment parenting presents us. We're mere mortals, and with all the other crap we do so well, sometimes our communication leaves something to be desired, and seriously: how many times are we expected to make the same reasonable request before it's acceptable to yell our fucking heads off ?! ;-P

In each instance, these choices have been the simplest options available for best meeting our children's needs. Moreover, attachment parenting has enabled us to better meet our own needs. Secure attachment between Dad and kids gives Mum more freedom to enjoy regular child-free time. Breastfeeding ensures Mum gets plenty of restful time throughout the day and barely notices nighttime parenting. Babywearing is how the littlest member of the tribe stays where he wants to be: with a parent while he/she can keep up with housework or focus on the homeschooling activities with the older children. Cosleeping means no trips down the hall in the middle of the night, to reach screaming children, every stir we're present for and 9 out of 10 times once the child locates Mum or Dad, s/he resettles. Gentle guidance is probably the hardest because the pay-off is less immediate ;) We work on gentle guidance now, in the hope that when our children are older they will find communication and compassion easier to navigate than they might have if we used threats, fear or force against them.

Raising healthy adults is what natural parenting is all about. Much like unschooling: relationship is the priority. Emotions aren't demonised. Communication is key.

For much more on attachment parenting see here.