Formula
So obviously I have an adopted son, so breastfeeding wasn't an option. (Actually, technically it was an option. I could have chosen to take hormones and supplements to force my body into producing milk, but that sounded unpleasant!) Here's the thing, I didn't want to breastfeed even if I had given birth to Caleb! I told Austin long before we even decided to pursue adoption that I wanted to formula feed. I have NEVER wanted to breastfeed! It sounds awful! And the truth is, formula isn't as bad as people make it out to be. My son is healthy, gaining weight, and is kind of a baby genius, so something must be working!
Sleep
We don't co-sleep. Well, we have before. There have been a handful of nights where we end up bringing Caleb to our bed around 3 or 4 in the morning to get some sleep. However, I do not sleep well with a tiny human in my bed all over me! We moved Caleb from a portable baby bed in our room to his crib in his room when he was about a month old, and NO REGRETS! We all three sleep better! (We also use the cry it out method. We do not allow our child to scream forever. He cries for a few minutes, and we go check on him. I do not for even a second believe crying it out causes a baby to feel abandoned or to develop a lack of trust.)
Vaccinations
We vaccinate. And we do so on the recommended schedule from the pediatrician. I have VERY strong opinions on this, and it's okay if you disagree. I am not okay with my son contracting a deadly disease. We have been so fortunate to live in a time of modern medicine and vaccinations. I have never known someone who died from polio or the measles. You know why? Vaccines. I could go on, but I'll stop there! If the pediatrician in which I trust my child's health recommends a vaccine, he will get that vaccine.
Baby Wearing
I wore Caleb in a sling in North Carolina when we were waiting to go back home a few times. I wore him through the airport, which was fantastic! I was terrified of my 2 week old catching nasty germs in the airport, but the sling kept him close to me and away from strangers! After we got home, I never used the sling again! We used to the stroller instead. I genuinely like the concept of baby wearing, but once the baby starts getting bigger, it starts to hurt! I attempted to wear Caleb in a carrier around the house, but it killed my back, and it was super hot! I wish I could've gotten more into baby wearing, but I just couldn't!
Homemade Baby Food
Y'all, I don't even like making homemade adult food! The less time I have to spend in the kitchen, the better! I think it's great if you puree all your own organic or home grown food for your baby. I really do! But being able to swing by the baby aisle in Target and toss a few pre-made containers in the cart is fantastic!
Oils
Do I think essential oils can be helpful in certain situations? Yes. But so can Tylenol. I think oils can be calming. (A massage room with oils going...holla!!!) I think certain scents can help with congestion or breathing issues. I'm not totally sold on most of the other uses though. I'm very much a fan of modern medicine!
School
I grew up in public school and then taught in public schools for five years, and I'm a fan! I do think home schooling or private schooling can be the best options for some families. However, I'm a big proponent of public school. Are there flaws in the system? Absolutely. NO system is perfect. However, there are AMAZING things happening in public schools all the time, but the media has done an excellent job of only showcasing the negatives. School is about so much more than simply learning to read, write, add, subtract, etc. It's about learning to deal with others. How to stand up for yourself when someone is mean. How to approach a teacher you may not like. How to lead others. How to persevere. Caleb will be going to public school. (Palmer Bulldogs for life!)
Technology
Okay, I'm a big believer in limiting screen time. I believe children should PLAY. However, I have already found a YouTube video of the B-I-B-L-E song that Caleb LOVES! We do not watch it every day, but there are some evenings when Austin is working and I just need a few minutes to get something done, so I put the video on. Sometimes, I play it 3 or 4 times. Technology is at our fingertips all the time, and I believe it can be used for good! And it can also be used to help a mama from losing her mind at times!
Plastic
We don't use reusable shopping bags. Ever. We also drink from plastic water bottles all the time. Neither of us like the taste of the tap water at our house, so we buy cases of water bottles.
Diapers
DISPOSABLE. There is no part of me that wants to wash poop out of cloth diapers day after day! No! Absolutely not! Nooooo way! I am thankful to be living in a time of Pampers. Enough said!
Birth
Again, we adopted, so I have never and will never give birth. If I had, it would have been in a hospital. I most certainly would have requested an epidural. (I have a low pain tolerance! lol) I don't believe an all natural birth in your bath tub at home makes the birth more special than at the hospital with an epidural or a scheduled c-section! You are bringing another LIFE into this world! That's amazing!!
I don't grow my own vegetables in my backyard. I've literally never grown a plant of any kind ever.
I don't eat kale. I don't want to eat kale.
I don't know how to sew, and I'm not crafty. When I want a cute onesie for Caleb, I order from Etsy. Or even better, Amazon Prime!
I don't believe I need my infant's consent to have him circumcised or change his diaper.
I believe in the "5 second rule" when food is dropped, except I don't count seconds!
I don't use covers in the shopping cart. I do wipe it down with a wipe before putting Caleb in it!
I other words, I'm so far from being a "crunchy mom." I learned today that I am much more aligned with the "silky mom" term! I like that I'm living in a time of modern conveniences. While I feel more strongly about some of these things I mentioned above than others, such as vaccines, public school, and modern medicine, I do think it's great that every family gets to choose what's best for THEM! Raising children in the 21st century is awesome because of the amount of options we all have! It's also really hard because of all the judgment we oftentimes receive. I see posts on Facebook nearly every day that I do not agree with, but instead of freaking out that others do things differently than I do, I'm simply thankful that I get to raise my son however I choose!
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