benbaby responded April 10, 2008 at 12:21AM

  Goofing around with my babies - Big and Lil

I feel you are doing just the right thing by giving your child lot of freedom to explore her little world. Most moms realize this late or they regret that they did not let the child explore on her own and have fun.

  kelardo responded April 10, 2008 at 6:20AM

  Where am I and what have they done to my body?

I wish I could be as laid back as you. I'm over cautious by nature.

  Sticky_Mommy responded April 10, 2008 at 10:53AM

  I love my job, it gives me a break from my kids!

Yes, you're a terrible Mommy.

Kidding! Each kid is different and each parenting style is different and you gotta listen to your own intuition and do what works for you. What works for my fam is:

eating organics when we can and always buying organic for the dirty dozen (http://www.mybaby.com/PlaygroundItem/Item/4138/Must_buy_Organic_The_Dirty_Dozen.htm)
feeding them chocolate in the morning if they slept through the night
eggs for dinner
yogurt & hummus for breakfast because they can reach those themselves
letting them play at the playground with out hovering
letting them fight and work it out (most of time & if theres blood, I step in)
only letting them drink water or milk. Id rather them get their sugar from their AM chocolate!
Letting my DD pick out her clothes and getting dressed by herself no matter how ugly the choice

This parenting thing is a learn-as-you-go and making ajustments on what doesn't work. Bad Mommy's Unite!

  dustbunny responded April 10, 2008 at 1:11PM

  dishing the dirt, cleaning the chaos

ok, you're right- parenting is not easy, that's why I'm all about using real life stuff for fun and education- I LOVE shortcuts that I learn from other moms- especially laid back moms- so I don't worry about nonsense. I get a lot of ideas from old-school mothering almanacs because they knew how to take care of kids even without baby gates and safety recalls. I hear you on that. No- you're obviously not a bad mom!

there are the helicopter parents who hover and
the hands off parents who care but don't meddle - leaving the learing to happen on its own and a thousand other types in between...

a lot of the bad mothering image is marketing anyway- if you don't have every gadget ($$$) then you obviously don't care. bah...I've got some secrets of my own...including little things like this morning, the entire family at cocoa puffs - my "good mom" friends would NEVER do that!

  Kelmcmom responded April 15, 2008 at 12:15AM

  Diggin the motherhood gig

dustbunny- you hit the nail on the expensive head! I had severe guilt if I did not buy the newest toy that claimed to get my child ahead of the curve. But I started to realize, though it took me a good 11 months that your baby has their own schedule for milestones and no toy can change that! Its hard as a new mommy not to be swayed by baby einstein and Vtech learning toys. I admit I own some of their products, but I use it for entertainment, not education so much. I am lucky enough to have a DVD player in the van and I put "abc" and "123" in it. (I got baby dvds at my local dollar tree-score!) I have also discovered the more a toy costs the less interest my lil goo has in it. Go tupperware, boxes and wrapping paper!

  karriejean responded April 15, 2008 at 4:36PM

  Massage therapist, martial artist, butt-kickin' momma.

Okay, I have ten tattoos and absolutley no hovering ability whatsoever. Childhood is short and should be enjoyed to its fullest. I've always let my son totter wherever (he's now three and climbing wherever. Gasp!) and fall and learn that you will get hurt but it goes away. This is all within reason, of course. Cardboard boxes hold so much more entertainment value than any gadget out there. Of course now that he's three and understands that money buys legos...ack, monster created! My husband has been the overprotective one and I've just had to grit my teeth through it because that's the way he is. But when LB is with me, he roams free and can do mostly anything. All under the hawk watch of his mommy, who does not hover! As for sugar that's the one thing I didn't allow him to have until recently. Now he occasionally gets a lollipop and chocolate milk. I'm a stickler with that piece since sugar can really screw with you child's behavior if they get too much (and I'm not saying that you do that!). We also eat as organically as possible, too, and absolutely no preservative-laden foods.

  Kelmcmom responded April 16, 2008 at 9:04AM

  Diggin the motherhood gig

hey we could make a new club-tattoo Moms!
But I should correct myself-I do try to get some organic snacks for her and stuff. It IS a little scary to see the eacky ingredients in some things...that I admit. But yesterday I did treat her to a sip of my soda, a dollap of whipped cream (at night!) and a cookie. So I guess that makes up for it. :o) Go "bad" mommies! lol

  LUV4TYLER responded October 18, 2008 at 1:44PM

  I'll always love my baby

every parent is differant. I think you're doing fine. as long as your kids are happy and healthy.