Author: 518 Christian
Here a pee, there a pee, everywhere a pee pee
I have to admit that once potty training is done, I never want to wash another soiled item again. However, for various reasons, regression can bring back the urine soaked clothing and puddles on the floor and can make you feel like pulling your hair out.
What are some reasons why a child may stop using the toilet?
1. Change in schedule– vacation or work changes, can alter your schedule and alter their little body rhythms.
2. Change in location– sometimes little ones simply don’t know where to use the potty when you are at a friends, out shopping, or away for a holiday. Someone new coming to their home can cause the same issue in that they are unsure of how to tackle the toilet with others at their house.
3. Busy, busy, busy– too much, for too long can set them off course.
4. Nervousness, trauma, or loss– anxiety can open the flood gates pretty quickly. Tracking down the source and handling it as best as possible can help get them back on track.
5. Mental or Physical Conditions– children experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Autism, and a host of other culprits, can regress without notice and can be a challenge to get back on track.
6. Control and Opposition– If there is one thing your child can control, that you can never control, is how, when, and where they “apply” their bodily functions. They may use this as a sort of weapon to “discharge” at will and oh my, oh my, oh my! That is a frustrating!
7. This is a great big spot for the “others.” All the endless reasons why toilet training can suddenly turn into wet pants 24/7.
Here is an idea we are currently using in our home to handle a child who has almost exclusively stopped using the toilet. To maintain confidence I will add the reason is a mixture of 4, 5, and 6 with the constant main source stemming from trauma that existed before her placement in our family.
Terrific Toileting Towers
You will need some supplies this that I will list in bold as I go.
First take an egg carton and cut it with a knife or scissors so you are left with a carton 4 wells across and 3 wells deep.
Then you will need some play dough to mold into the shape and size of a golf ball. You can make some dough by combining 1 cup of salt, 2 cups of flour, and 3/4 cups of water. You can add food coloring as well.
Then you will need some kind of spike. I used these great drink stirrers I found on amazon. You pull the green stirrer out of the clear plastic holder and use the green portion. You can also use toothpicks.
Next you will place a ball of dough into each of the four top wells.
Then stick the green stirrer or toothpick in the middle, pointy side up.
Smooth and press the dough around the stick so that it is secure and will dry with the stick as straight up as possible.
Next you will need some fun colorful beads, in four different colors. We used little heart shaped beads we found at the dollar store.
Fill each well with a designated color.
Trim off the bottom portion as shown.
Next you will need to print out some pictures! Here is a printable copy ready for you to print with photos already sized to fit. CLIP ART for toilet time
Cut and glue each photo to each well. Each picture symbolizes a bead you can earn for the tower.
Photo 1- Using the toilet.
“Go potty as soon as you feel you need to!”
Photo 2- Wiping
“Wipe your bottom until it is clean!”
Photo 3- Clean Underwear
“Feel/Check your underwear to make sure it is clean!”
Photo 4- Wash Hands
“Wash your hands soap and water and then dry them up!”
Let the fun begin!!
Hopefully you have success! When the beads reach the top of the tower, perhaps you would want to hand out a treat. Stickers or an edible treat work. We are giving new underwear and clothing items to help her feel good about keeping her items clean. Plus she is in desperate need of some new clothes so….two birds, one stone! Depending on the age and reason for the regression you can clear the towers and start over if your child chooses to wet the pants instead of using the toilet.
Enjoy your finished product and less laundry!!!
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Going Steady- The Relationship Tri-Pod
When my husband was wooing me in our single days, he had a basic rule of thumb to keep our relationship healthy. He considered the health and wellness of our relationship to be reliant on a level tri-pod, each leg representing a vital part of our relationship. There was the emotional leg, the physical leg, and the spiritual leg. If we invested too much time building only one or two of those legs, we would be off balance. It worked really well for us and each time we talked, we discussed how we were doing in those areas.
The tri-pod works straight throughout marriage as well. If we are not actively checking back on how we are doing, we may miss something and feel a bit unsteady.
Spiritual Leg- Hubby Wifey Morning Spiritual Plan
Hubby and Wifey Spiritual Script (Tri-Pod Binder)
Sometimes it can be hard to diagnose what exactly causes distance in our relationships. Busy schedules, kids, finances, and life in general can make us more like ships passing each other in the sea, than a connected couple. I don’t know of a single happy marriage that exists without intentional maintenance.
When my husband was wooing me in our single days, he had a basic rule of thumb to keep our relationship healthy. He considered the health and wellness of our relationship to be reliant on a level tri-pod, each leg representing a vital part of our relationship. There was the emotional leg, the physical leg, and the spiritual leg. If we invested too much time building only one or two of those legs, we would be off balance. It worked really well for us and each time we talked, we discussed how we were doing in those areas.
The tri-pod works straight throughout marriage as well. If we are not actively checking back on how we are doing, we may miss something and feel a bit unsteady. With six kids and a busy schedule, our biggest struggle is in continuing to build the spiritual leg of our relationship. There is nothing more precious to me than my husband and nothing quite as intimate to me as being close to him spiritually. I put together a short, morning plan to help us make sure we are staying disciplined in our spiritual health as a couple.
It includes a Scripture reading time and a prayer time.
You can print this out, three hole punch it, and put it into the Spiritual section of your tri-pod binder. (see Tri-Pod Binder post for more details)
The reading portion includes reading 2 chapters in our Bible per day, every Monday through Saturday. At the completion of this plan, we will have read each chapter in the New Testament, as well as the books Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Ruth, two times over.
The second portion is a prayer time based off of Jesus’ instructions on how to pray, found in Matthew 6:9-13.
Printing out pages for our prayer time helps us track what we have been praying for. It also gives us a great way to look back on how God has worked in our lives.
Feel free to print out a copy for your own use or to use as a guide to create your own. A full copy can be downloaded here. Hubby Wifey Morning Spiritual Plan
Feel free to join our discussion on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/322007224621891/
Boosting Breastmilk Production (with recipe)
Making More Breastmilk!!
As you read through I want you to notice one common theme. No machines! A pump can be a very useful tool and I am thrilled we have so many wonderful pumps available now. There are so many times when the pump is the tool of choice, however, the best way to make more milk is by using this lovely, squishy, super cool “tool” God gave you in your sweet baby. They are the most well made, efficient, easy to clean pumps available. The do not run out of battery or require electricity nor should you be losing any of their parts. Save the pumps for when you really need them and try out your baby first.
1. Bedrest- Rest and supply go hand in hand so if your worried you are running low give yourself some extra rest. Pick a good movie, a book, a few snacks and a big bottle of water and relax.
2. Nurse More Frequently- More time at the breast will mean more milk in the breast. Frequent stimulation will secrete more of the hormone needed for milk making. Avoid big gaps (2-3 hours or more) between nursing. Frequent stimulation offers more benefit when attempting to boost supply than the longevity of each feed.
3. Super-Switch Nursing- Begin breastfeeding, watching your baby for the moment where they begin to slow down. At that point, break the latch and switch to the other side. Repeat this 2, 3, or even 4 times. This offers an excellent dose of stimulation.
4. Oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal…enough said
5. Mama’s Milk Tea– This is found in the vitamin section of most drug stores or markets. Be sure to seep it properly. It can be a more acquired taste! For more information on herbal supplements and milk boosting foods you can go to Dr. Jack Newman’s site http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=doc-HRMS
6. Pull the Plug- Limit or stop pacifier and bottle use. Get rid of any extra “sucks” you can. If you need to supplement, use a medicine syringe or cup. You want your baby to have his sucking needs met at the breast while you are trying to boost your supply.
7. Lactation Cookies-see recipe below and when else can you say, “I need to eat these chocolate chip cookies because it is best for my baby!”
Mama’s Milk Making Cookies
1/2 cup butter,
1/2 cup sugar,
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar,
2 tablespoons water,
2 tablespoons flax seed meal,
1 eggs,
1/2 teaspoon vanilla,
1 cups flour,
1/2 teaspoon baking soda,
1/2 teaspoon salt,
2 cups oats,
2 cup chocolate chips,
3 tablespoons brewer’s yeast
Preheat oven to 350°.
Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let it sit for 5 minutes. Beat the brown sugar, sugar, and butter. Beat in the egg, the flaxseed/water mix, and vanilla.
Sift the salt, baking soda, flour, and brewers yeast and add to the wet ingredients. Stir in the chocolate chips and the oats. Scoop onto baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes, letting the cookies set for a couple minutes before removing from the tray.
For a yummy and healthier variation on this recipe, take out the chocolate chips and add in a cup or two of raisins and some cinnamon.
Toddler Chore Chart Idea
Here is an example of a chore chart we use in our home for our pre-readers. We use clip art instead of words and allow them to put a sticker on the photo when they complete a task. Many little ones as early as 2 can understand a chart like this. Younger ones can still help out but will need one on one direction much more and clip art will only be a fun thing to look at!
Printable Version Toddler Chores
What Not To Say When Your Friend Miscarries
This is a difficult post to consider writing but one that I am convicted needs to be done. After experiencing a miscarriage years ago, witnessing family and friends lose children, and counseling other women who have suffered the same, there are common statements, meant to comfort, that burn through the heart of women. I want to share them with you now so your heart to comfort a woman can be as effective as you would love for it to be. I am writing this as a woman and will address things from a mother’s point of view. There is no mistaking that fathers grieve as well and my heart equally understands that the trauma of losing a baby reaches beyond a mother’s womb.
- “At least it happened early!” I cringe thinking of this one and how much it hurt each and every time I heard these words. I remember it like it was yesterday, each time another woman shares that someone said those words to her. A woman’s pain cannot be measured in how long she carried her baby. Her loss is in losing her child. Longevity is a measure that sooths those around her, but makes her aware that others are measuring the value of her child’s life in months. A mother simply values her child regardless of how long they lived.
- “There was probably something wrong with the fetus.” Oh, the day my ob/gyn almost lost her front teeth! Safe to say, I never walked into her office again. To a mother, her child would have had tremendous worth and brought her incredible joy, even if something was “wrong.” Again, this may sooth those around the mother, but again tells her that her baby’s worth is being measured in the health of her baby. A mother simply values her child regardless of how smart, healthy, and strong they could have been.
- “I will let you live vicariously through me!” No. A friend’s pregnancy is not the same as your own. This is not the same as sharing a sweater. You may be thrilled about carrying your child, but it doesn’t discount the pain she feels from no longer carrying her own child.
- “At least you already have a baby!” True. But not this baby. To a mother, each of her children are unique and worth as much as the one before. Mourning the loss of a child does not mean that a mother no longer is overjoyed by the child/ren she is raising. It simply means that she is quite reasonably mourning the death of her child and that is a very healthy thing for her to do.
- “Don’t worry. You can try again.” That may be true, but that does not replace this child. I need to repeat that. A new baby does not replace the previous baby. In fact, for many mothers, this can be a struggle. They may logically think, if the pregnancies are close together, “If I didn’t miscarry, I wouldn’t have had this baby,” and they will wrestle with if it is ok to be as happy with their living child. That may seem odd or unreasonable to someone who has never been through that, but it is absolutely normal for a mother to think through and even struggle with. You cannot talk her out of it. You simply need to let her work it out.
- “It was God’s Will!” Oh my sweet, sweet friends. Ouch! Do not send her a book on “How to find God’s Joy through loss,” or something of the like. I promise, it feels cruel and can make a mother quite angry at our loving God. I had a mother drive to my house, and throw a book that her well-intentioned neighbor gave her, using language of all colors to describe her feelings about this “thoughtful” gift! It crushed her and she raged inside towards God and this neighbor. Mothers need to know that God weeps with them. The Bible says to mourn with those who mourn. You may be uncomfortable cozying up and crying with your friend, but trying to discount their time to mourn is not a solution.
- “It just wasn’t time yet.” Well, it actually was. It was time. This mother carried her baby at the exact time they were meant to live. A baby showing up at the so called wrong time does not alter their value in the eyes of their mama.
- “Now you and your husband have more time just the two of you because trust me, when you have a baby….” A mother does not need to hear how much more time she will have to enjoy her husband. They were clearly already enjoying each other and were delighted to enjoy each other in a new way. Sending a message that somehow a baby would have ruined that concurrently sends a message to the couple that they were too selfish to enjoy their baby and each other, so surely death would be better. That sounds pretty harsh, right? You didn’t mean it that way? I know that. That is why I am telling you what she will hear. A mother in mourning will hear very specific undertones in what you say.
- “At least you know you CAN get pregnant now.” A mother’s pregnancy is not simply a test of maternal physical aptitude. She wanted a baby. Her baby. She didn’t just pass the pregnancy test. She lost her child.
- “You can always adopt.” I promise, she knew that before she became pregnant. Her ability to adopt was not enhanced by a miscarriage. An adopted child does not replace a miscarried or stillborn child any more than a birth child would have. A grieving mother may desperately want a child, but, for the time being, she wants this child. The mere idea of desiring a “replacement” would make her feel like a monster.
You want to offer her comfort and that is a lovely thing. Offering comfort is not the same as taking her pain away. You cannot do that. She needs support around her and willing persons to help her carry the pain. In her eyes, in her heart, in her own body, her child died. The magnitude of such a trauma is extensive. Mothers are not “out of sight, out of mind” folk. They do not find solace in never holding their baby alive. They need to know that it is as ok to mourn and weep over losing this little life that lived inside as it is to mourn and weep over losing a 1 year old or a teenager or anyone else. The time clock is up to them so don’t try to speed her along. Just carry the burden with her, with an understanding heart. Consider that her entire body, physically and emotionally is undergoing this trauma, even if she looks the same to you. If she needs to cry, let her cry. If she needs to talk about it, talk to her about it. Think before you talk, “am I about to say this to make her stop mourning? Am I about to say this because I want to feel better?” Understand that she wishes she could feel better too. Miscarriage has become a bit of a secret because we fear others responses. Let mothers know they can come out of hiding now and share their stories. Let them feel comfortable naming their babies, no matter how small. Let them chose ways to honor and mourn their child’s life and honor that with them. They may go on to see God’s goodness through their life. They may go on to have more children. They may go on to adopt. They may even want to read a book someday on finding joy in troubled times. Be the friend that was there through it all. You may need her to do that for you someday.
This is dedicated to all of you precious mothers who lost their sweet babies. As my Pastor so lovingly shared with a friend, “Heaven just got a little sweeter for you!”
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Official Time Out Steps
We use time out in our family. I understand why some feel it is controversial but with some prayer and some modifications, we have felt it has been a good decision for our family. Perhaps it may be a good fit for you too! If not, no worries. Just skip to another post!
Why do we use Time Out as a discipline measure?
Well, we are convinced that it is our job to provide as many parallels to the “real world” as possible to prepare our children for their future adult lives. In the “real world,” time out is a discipline tool used all the time! Really. Think about it! You break rules and you get suspended, expelled, fired, probation, and even jail time. Time out happens and I would rather teach them to avoid it whilst they’re young, than be deduced to visiting hours only. Besides, I love them. A ton! If they need to learn something, I prefer it to be from someone who loves them! For example, if you bully in my home (refer to our bullying guidelines), you will go away (time out). I am a big believer that techniques should simulate life. You’re giving them a realistic view of their world. If you bully as an adult you could go to time out…and it will have bars! The point of a time out or a punishment is to bring that person back to the family, to join in a happy unit. It is not about you ridding yourself of some anger. The purpose is to restore and reteach.
How do we use Time Out?
We basically took everything we learned about time out and threw it out the window. We start young! I mean young! Like by 15 months. Obviously that would differ per child since development happens at different rates. We do not use a 1 minute per age rule because we believe correction should only last as long as it needs to for effectiveness and not a millisecond longer. For our littlest ones, we will do a very quick correction. Here is how it works.
Step 1- Change the Location- Quickly remove the child from their current area and bring them to a corner, wall, room, designated spot (wherever); just somewhere different from the scene of the crime. This area should be somewhere in the presence of where you will be while they are in time out. They will need to have a visual on you. I will explain more late. I don’t like to ruin surprises. This movement should be quick and unexpected. You want them thinking, “What on earth is she up to?!?” This brain trick helps them snap out of naughty mode for a brief moment and will peak their curiosity prompting at least come level of attention.
Step 2- Get down on your knees and make eye contact. “If you don’t have their eyes, you don’t have their heart!” ~Michelle Duggar
Step 3- Tell them what they did wrong. “Cupcake, you whopped sissy on her head!” Be sure your face and tone match your words. You cannot be terrified of correcting your child. It is kind. It is loving. It is sweet. It is needed! You are blessing your child, not injuring their spirits for life. Your face and tone should reflect urgency and should be firm and unpleasant because what you are saying is urgent, firm, and unpleasant. For small, squeaky sounding mamas like me, I needed to practice in a mirror. My mother, heard me mother, and let me know, in as kind of a way as possible, that I wasn’t that scary. Though scary is not our goal, being taken seriously is! I have some of the most adorable friends in the world and they sound as adorable when they correct their children. I now, if they ask for it, tell them honestly how they sound because someone was kind enough to do that for me at one point. (Thanks again Mom!) If I think you are adorable, so will your kids and therefore, they will not try to avoid correction, rather they will coerce it!
Step 4- Tell them why it was wrong. “That hurt sissy!” Again face and tone must make sense to what you are saying. Try this checklist if you struggle or don’t know if you struggle in this area. Parent Correction Checklist
(You may should shorten or lengthen the dialogue in correlation to your child’s mental capacity)
Step 5- Tell them their consequence. “You are in time out!”
Step 6- Set the child in time out and walk away (But not out of sight) It is important to stay close but pretend you are not watching. It helps to have super sonic parent eyes! So here is the tricky part! You are not going to set a timer. You are simply going to watch. So, steps 1-5 should all happen very quickly. By this point you should have your child’s curious attention. You have just caused an upheaval and they are now waiting, watching, and listening to see what you want. If you mosey through the steps, they likely stopped paying attention long ago. Since this happened quick, they are in the “what in the world just happened mode” and now they are trying to sort all of it out according to their abilities. For a younger child, this can be a very short amount of time before they are ready to start thinking about something else again. So you are watching for cues that your child is ready to move on. They may go from looking confused to starting to wiggle their fingers, or their little legs. You can see that they are about to get themselves out of time out. I recommend a sitting time out to buy you time. At the point they are figuring this is all nonsense, you intervene. As quickly, you go over and stand them up before they get up on their own. You want the standing up part to appear to be on your terms, not theirs. This gives you back their attention. Over time, you can lengthen your time outs, if need be, because they will have learned early on that you are in charge of when they sit and when they stand.
Confession: Thanks to this technique, I have successfully been able to enforce “Time Out,” while I am driving and they are buckled. I have told them they are in time out and, though they are already sitting and fastened in place, you will still see a visible change in their demeanor. I carry out the entire process as if we were home. Completely efficient and somewhat diabolical!
Step 7- Again, get down on your knees and make eye contact.
Step 8- Review what they did wrong. “Cupcake, you whopped sissy on her head!” Be sure your face and tone match your words.
Step 9- Review why it was wrong. “That hurt sissy!”
(You may should shorten or lengthen the dialogue in correlation to your child’s mental capacity)
Step 10- Review their consequence. “You were in time out!”
Step 11- Tell them what they cannot do. “You don’t hit!” I call this emptying their tool box. In their tool box they have a host of bad ideas/tools…like whopping sissy on the head!
Step 12- Tell then what they CAN do. I call this…you’ll never guess…FILLING the tool box. Do you and yourself a favor and don’t give your child a no, without also giving them a yes. Tell them what they CAN do. It helps the brain think on something new otherwise you shape chronic reoffenders. “You be gentle.” We have the fine job of FILLING their tool box with a series of new, positive tools. Kids at all ages need this part. We are made for action. If you just say what not to do, it is all they may think on. If you tell them what they can do, you have given them a new opportunity to succeed. IMPORTANT: This is your scene change. At this point your face should reflect a happy, pleasant smile and your voice should be sweet and friendly. Even if you are feeling angry or you are not sure they are fully getting it, you are to SHOW them what positive looks like with your face and your tone and of course, your words.
Step 13- Have them make amends. This is so crucial. Even your non-verbal’s can walk through an apology. You may say “Say sorry!” and they may reply, “baabee!” Perhaps they can only do a gentle touch on your face with your hand to assist them while you say sorry. That is your apology.
Step 14- HUGS, KISSES, FORGIVE, MOVE ON!! It is all done now. You have fully reconciled and your day is waiting so let it all go.
So now a neat trick for the time out impaired…..
This is called “The Other Time Out”
For children who are incredibly resistant because perhaps they got off on the wrong footing, I give you, The Other Time Out. Basically you do the steps. If they get to step 6 and immediately get up or offer a fight, you can give them a warning, “If you do not sit proper, I will have to bring you to the other time out!” For most, that is sufficient enough of a threat that you may regain some control. I mean, what on earth is the “other” time out anyway? Most kids chose not to risk it. But, lo and behold, some of them will. If they do not yield your warning, you will then reset to step 1, moving them to another location, referring to that new spot rather dramatically as The Other Time Out. It is just so weird, that it actually works. I will march a child clear around the globe until we have reached the point where they fully understand, I will not give up. Even the most difficult with eventually acquiesce!
Hopefully some of these tips will help you. Remember that the purpose of all discipline is to correct unpleasant behavior, not to simply let them know you are mad. Discipline is meant to extend the highest level of respect and kindness to your children. Your message to your children is that you “expect” behaviors that will help them succeed in life and that you know they are capable, lovable, and worthwhile. Lots more on this to come, but let’s take a time out, shall we?
Blessings!
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Breastfeeding Trials- Just Add Pasta
If I gave you a recipe for pasta and said boil 2 cups of water, add 1 cup of pasta, a 1/4 cup of milk, some salt and some butter and you did everything but add the pasta… it would be a pretty gross lunch. Would you say, “I tried everything but it just isn’t working?”
That is similar to how it is with breastfeeding. To be successful at breastfeeding you have to add the essential ingredient…the breast! We are finding many mothers cling to advice to feed every 3 to 4 hours and that simply is not enough for the first weeks. It is a ‘good enough’ average for a well established breastfeeding relationship but it is no where near enough. Every woman has milk ducts ready to perform but it takes weeks for the “system” to mature. During those weeks many breastfeeding troubles can be avoided by simply bringing the baby to the breast as often as possible. It is not a sentence..it is practice time! The more you practice…the easier and the better the game!! We know it can be hard and we know it can hurt. We know a baby changes EVERYTHING and sometimes we are less ready for change than we think and that is ok. Just be reminded that there is a recipe for a pain-free, easy-peasy lemon squeezy breastfeeding relationship. Commit to lots of time at the breast in the first few weeks and trust the pay off is wonderful. Take the “timed” feeding advice and put it somewhere for safekeeping. Try the “I feed my baby as often as I can” approach and then enjoy the benefits of your hard work.
There are lots of obstacles that arise when it comes to breastfeeding. Please do not throw in the towel any sooner than you would like to. Please reach out for help if you would like it.
And what ever you do…if you are to make pasta…add the pasta!!
Lots of love and hope for new breastfeeding moms!
When are you going to stop Breastfeeding?
I don’t know about you but the one question I get more than any other is, “when are you going to stop breastfeeding?” It comes harshly, softly, or with a scoff. It comes from doctors, family, friends, and perfect strangers. I have learned to say, “when he is done” and try to turn the conversation to something appropriate. The truth is I love to breastfeed. Not for any odd reason but because it makes life with my son so much better. I followed the “timeline” approach with the first two boys because I never knew there was another option. With our last boy I was introduced to extended nursing (usually means beyond the first year) and what a miracle it has been. I wish I had known for the first two but no regrets. I enjoyed, and continue to enjoy those two, daily. I have learned that breastmilk does not shut off the nutrition on his 1 year birthday. We quite effortlessly nursed through H1N1, cold and flu season, strep outbreak, etc… without getting sick. I love the “no extra co-pays” strategy of saving money. I have never been a pillar of health and I think so often how I am helping my little guy avoid a lifetime of poor health. Cancer runs deep in my family and I think often about what I am doing daily to lower my breast cancer rate and how I am lowering both childhood cancers and prostrate cancer for him later in life. I have a hole in my heart and have seen on the news the rate of heart disease skyrocketing and yet I am lowering my rate daily. My top enjoyment is the bonding though. I have a little boy who so completely trusts and loves me that his independence flows! I can have confidence that if I leave him to go out he will be completely secure and happy. I never worry my babysitter will tell me he was difficult to manage. I know too that I am helping to make school a little easier for him each month as his IQ gets a supercharged boost. The bottom line is, breastmilk is good the infant and good for the toddler. Breastfeeding is personal; the how long and the why behind your breastfeeding relationship is between mother and child and we should honor and encourage it. It is often hurtful when I am put down for it but the confidence I have in knowing it is a gift I am giving to both of us far outweighs any bad feelings. My little guy will be 2 next month…when will I stop breastfeeding him you ask? When he is done!
I wrote this about 4 years back when I was hearing so much kickback and pressure from others towards me and towards friends of mine. The idea is to breastfeed as long is as mutually beneficial to mother and baby.
Parent Blessing 