It seems I missed out on quite the debate last week over on angerisagift’s blog. And here I was even mentioned. Leesa, as a good friend, you are supposed to bring such details to my attention, if you notice that I have not joined into a good argument. That being said, I feel somewhat like touching on part of the topic. I think I will attempt to cover the section about opinions changing, eiter when one or one’s significant other become knocked up, or upon the arrival of one’s offspring.
I have long had several opinions on child-rearing. I have always been rather free with them, yet stated the disclaimer that I did not really know what the actual experience does to you, and that when I got there, my opinion might change. Granted, I have now been here for only five weeks as of today (Happy Birthday Rebecca), but some things have changed. Others have not. I will probably forget a lot of them, but as my brain is being sucked out of my boobs, I hope you will forgive me.
Daycare
I feel pretty much as Leesa and Christy seem to. If that’s your choice, fine. If not, fine. I have always said that I would be a stay-at-home parent. Nothing has changed there. Its sort of like abortion rights. I support the option being available. It’s not something that is right for me. My Grandmother always said that you shouldn’t have someone you don’t know that well watching your child until your child is old enough to talk. I have also heard that you shouldn’t leave your child where you wouldn’t leave a million dollars. I don’t know. I try to avoid being sappy or mushy, so I don’t even look into myself to uncover the “true” reason for my decision, but I don’t want someone else getting to see all the milestones instead of me. This, however, tends to be unfair to Ben, as he is now the sole bread-winner for the family. When it gets downs to brass tacks, does arguing the point of daycare make any more sense than arguing because someone chooses to feed their children more red meat than you feel is healthy?
Breastfeeding
I always planned on breastfeeding. Again, I don’t mess with the sappy, mushy point of vew about how it means so much more love to the baby, is so much better, blah blah blah. I go with my cold-hearted bitch viewpoint of, now I don’t have to mess with fixing and cleaning all those bottles. Also, think of all the candles I can buy with the money I don’t spend on formula!
The viewpoint change here is that I always said that I would not be one of those women who whip the boob out in front of everyone. After being in the hospital for 4.5 days and having (as Ben can attest) every nurse who entered the room sticking my boob in Rebecca’s mouth, or at least offering to, can change how you feel about it. It actually started right in the hospital, when I had guests (female, that’s a good starting point for nursing in public) sitting right in front of me and a crying, hungry child. Didn’t really think about it, just went and whipped it out. I have now nursed several times at Casa Gallardo, Kohl’s, the Wal-Mart parking lot, St. Louis Community College Meremac Campus, Pulaski Bank, walking along Olive, etc. just in the 5 weeks Rebecca has been here.
My plan at this point is to nurse until at least 6 months. We are somewhat tossing around the idea of going back to the baby doctor at that point, and I’m fairly positive that you shouldn’t nurse on the injectible medication. Nevermind the whole ovulation/period staying away while you nurse in most cases.
Co-Sleeping
This is a topic that got me up on my soap-box repeatedly. I would spout off about how dangerous and risky this is. What if you rolled over and suffocated your baby? Not a chance of my child ever sleeping in bed with me. My child would sleep in a little bassinet type thingy next to the bed or in her crib. I quickly discovered the first night home from the hospital that babies who aren’t even one week old will happily voice their opinions on where they are willing to sleep. Sure, I am the adult and I can leave her there and eventually she will fall asleep, but there is something that seems rather sick to me about leaving a baby that young to cry it out. Wait until your child starts the screaming where she doesn’t breathe. Poor Ben has broken out in a rash from the stress of the baby crying. Rebecca has spent one-half of one evening sleeping in her bassinet thingy. I have now discovered the joys of feeding her lying down, which helps seal the co-sleeping idea. From reading the message boards of various parenting sites that I peruse, co-sleeping is gaining in popularity. I know that I don’t move in my sleep, due to the stiffness and aches in my body when I wake, so I have not been overly concerned. Please don’t bother to lecture me on my current decision, as I feel that my child is happy sleeping with her parents, and I will not take that away from her.
I think these are the big things I had opinions on previously. If there is something else, say so, I will have an opinion. I do feel the need to say, I believe there are some children whose are born witout a perforated anus, requiring surgery to correct this defect. Therefore, everyone does not have an asshole. And there is an ‘H’ in Buddhist. hehe. poop.
