What a WONDERFUL opportunity

Friday evening I was asked by a friend to attend a forum at the local news station to talk about parenting. I went in with the theory I was going to be on television but wasn't 100% sure what was going to be required of me. I had Peanut help get me ready and she gave me a pedicure that morning. Talk about fun mommy/daughter time! When I got there, my stomach was in knots. We got a tour of the station and got to see how everything ran. It was just SO awesome.


We all sat down and got miked up. Then we skyped with Lenore Skenazy, author of the great book Free Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry (Buy it here!). She got a lot of attention a few years ago for letting her nine year old child ride the subway by himself in New York City. The clip turned out great, and you can see it here:

Is Helicopter Parenting Bad for our Children?


I would like to add a couple things though ....

1) While I am a free range parent, I am also classified as an attached parent. I do NOT believe the two have to be inseparable. The three BIG things involved with attached parenting (but not NEARLY all of what AP is) is co-sleeping, baby wearing, and extended nursing. So, I slept with my baby for the first year of her life. She could nurse while we slept, her breathing matched my breathing, and everyone was happy. Ask anyone though and they will tell you that Monkey is by far a completely dependent on me child! In fact, she doesn't like it if I get too close to her at the park. I need to be there when she falls or if she is getting into something she shouldn't, but she likes to be able to roam and explore. I also wear Monkey, but have you seen how unfriendly places are for strollers? Plus, I can wear her on my back while shopping and have NO issues of her falling out of the cart, her eating the cart, or needing to leave the cart for half a second to grab an item. Finally, yes I will nurse her to sleep still and if she gets hurt. She has cut way back on her nursing but she isn't ready to call it completely quits. So ... just because you are an attached parent, you are not automatically a helicopter parent. Nor do all helicopter parents believe in attached parenting. =)

2) I could NOT have said it better. Abby hit the nail on the head when she said that she is tired of moms being pitted against each other, and Lenore stated that parenting is a spectator sport. It is AWFUL. If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your yapper shut! If a mom ASKS for advice, give it to her because she is truly trying to make the best decisions for her child. Do not get upset, however, if she poses the same question to many other moms. No mom will have it perfect, nor will one mom know what is best for your family. Moms need to be there to support each other. Parenting is HARD work and making mistakes bring with it the life long guilt that you could have done better.



I hope you enjoy watching the clip, as much as I enjoyed taking part in it. Thanks to Candy, creator of KCMetroMoms, and KSHB News 41 for the ability to take part in your parenting forum. Look forward to being able to work with everyone again in the future!