Can't even go to the bathroom....to be attached or not to be???? that is the question

What God Says: "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

So yesterday, my 13 month old son was screaming at the bathroom door as I sneaked in there to...you guessed it, go "potty". You would think that he just had a door slammed on his tiny little sausage fingers, but no, just me leaving him for a moment in time to use the restroom and dare I say "Have a few minutes of quiet time too"?? was enough to put him over the edge. Thank God, my 2 1/2 year old daughter was reassuring me from her booster seat yelling "Mommy, I am not crying". Believe it or not, it did help me to know that this stage of attachment would end eventually and that she had a level of understanding that at this moment, I did not have.
(Back up a little bit in time).... My husband and I did not get babies that like to sleep in the beautifully painted nursery, or even pack and play right next to us. I know some of you out there have those children that give you space and sleep through the night at 6 weeks old, God bless you and those little gifts .

Since our kids were both tiny little infants, they liked to be sleeping on me in the swing or close to us. Because of a few Christian parenting books, and our conscience, not to mention crying baby until we put them in bed with us, we decided it was best to have our children sleep with us (from 3 months or so on with Lincoln for safety reasons) so we all got some sleep. With Norah,our first, we were totally against the "family bed" because it was bad for children and the parents....so we heard at the time. But let me tell you, she cried for 9 months about every 45 minutes or so if she was in the pack and play but we were able to go for 2 hours in the swing. It wasn't until our trip to Michigan that Norah had her first 12 hours of sleep and you guessed it, in our bed with us. It was pure heaven. I kept waking up because I wasn't woken up by crying. She slept with us until a month or so before Lincoln was born. She went to her big girl bed...that is another story (baby steps with that too)

I say all of this because I believe that God wants us to keep our children close to us and take your baby's cue. If they need you, especially as an infant, be there for them. What greater investment in the life of another, than your love. I breastfed both children for a year and it was so rewarding for me and for them in so many areas. Did you know that breastfeeding burns 500 calories a day? and it's free and most women are able to unless you had breast surgery where they detached the nipple. A lactation consultant friend of mine said that she is taught that 95% of women can indeed breastfeed. Ask for help if you need it, and enjoy the gift of life God has given you.

Now, don't think it wasn't hard. It was indeed inconvenient at times when I had to walk into another room in the middle of a conversation, or pull over on the side of the road to feed because I didn't give a bottle or when I ripped a shirt of mine trying to be stylish and get breastfeeding right.

As it stands now, I am finished with breastfeeding ( a year is my limit) and Norah is definitely much more independent now. She has been sleeping in her big girl bed for about a year now and Lincoln is slowly learning to wean from holding my hair or being next to me to sleep. I don't just want to stop cold turkey, I want him to know that I am not far, but give him the security he needs to relax and go to sleep......so baby steps. After all they are only little for such a little bit of time. Let's enjoy those moments even when we don't feel like it.


Mommyhood Moral of the Story By Tami: "Give your babies what they need, listen to that still small voice of Jesus telling you what to do and even if your friends or family look down on you, if it's good for you and your family and God approves, than do it!"