At 10 Months Old

He has learned to shake his toy maracas.

A few weeks ago he would have been content to explore the maracas with his mouth before dropping it on the floor and scampering off to parts unexplored. He is growing up.

Just last night I taught him how to climb the stairs. He was standing at the bottom, holding onto the beige, carpeted step and trying to figure out what to do. Pausing for a second, I contemplated whisking him off to safer things like his exersaucer or pack and play. However, those things are barriers and he wants to explore. He wants to learn about his world and keeping him caged won’t let him do that. So I bent down and nudged his chubby thigh up onto the step. He shakily hoisted himself up. Then he smiled, a burgeoning gap-toothed grin he inherited from his daddy, and pulled himself up onto another step.

I love that he knows when he’s accomplished something. When he manages to stand unsupported for longer than two seconds he gives me a look, full of surprise and laughter, that says, “I did it!” Then he falls to his diaper-cushioned bum and promptly pulls himself up to standing again.

He’s tenacious because he doesn’t know that someone will eventually tell him to give up.

He’s daring because he doesn’t yet know that there are things he should be afraid of.

He’s ten months old and he’s learning to navigate the world around him. I just try to help him land softly when he falls.

Blah Blah Blogging Block

I have a case of writer’s block. Or perhaps it’s a lack of confidence. I have multiple ideas for blog posts. Sometimes I start to write them. They often remain unfinished or I delete them entirely because they’re not __________ (insert deprecative adjective) enough. I do, however, have faith that I will come out of this blogging slump. So, in the meantime, please enjoy the above pic of Baby E who is being relatively pleasant as he cuts his first teeth. Also, head on over to The Mahogany Way and congratulate fellow blogging mama, Darcel, on the successful homebirth of her son.

That Little Thing

Welcome to the May Carnival of Natural Parenting: Role model

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have waxed poetic about how their parenting has inspired others, or how others have inspired them. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am conflict-averse, particularly when it comes to the internet. I understand that some of my parenting beliefs diverge from the mainstream and might arouse debate. This is why I generally keep my more controversial opinions to myself unless I know my audience is receptive. So when I recently posted a pro-intactivism message on my Facebook status, I did so with trepidation.

Would I be heckled? Would I receive jeers? Would someone call me offensive and de-friend me?

I mulled over the possibilities.

The post remained largely ignored on my Wall.

Then I received a response from a friend from my undergraduate days.

The simple note said, “Thank you for the information. I had no idea.”

Later I found out that she had a discussion with her fiance about not circumcising any future sons. She also got others in her immediate social circle talking about it too.

I have no idea how many people paid attention to that Facebook status. I have no idea how many dismissed it or were offended by it. I do know that my seemingly tiny act caused a ripple effect of education and action.

So I guess it’s true — the little things do count.

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Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• Woman Seeking Inspiration — Seeking Mother’s struggles and joys to find her own path in motherhood have inspired others — to her surprise! (@seekingmother )
• Paving the Way — Jessica at This is Worthwhile makes a conscious effort every day to be a role model. (@tisworthwhile )
• No Rules Without Reason — The Recovering Procrastinator wants to inspire her husband to discipline their children gently. (@jenwestpfahl)
• Creating a Culture of Positive Parenting Role Models — Michelle at The Parent Vortex shows parents at the playground how to do a front wrap cross carry and tells nurses about her successful home births, as a way of modeling natural parenting in public. (@TheParentVortex)
• Making A Difference for Mamas — Shana at Tales of Minor Interest took an embarrassing pumping incident at work and turned it into an opportunity for all the employees who breastfeed.
• Inspiring Snowflakes — Joni Rae at Tales of Kitchen Witch Momma is a role model for the most important people: her children. (@kitchenwitch)
• Paying it Forward — Amber at Strocel.com inspires new (and often scared) mamas with these simple words: “It will be OK.” (@AmberStrocel)
• A SAHD’s View on Parenting Role Models — Chris at Stay At Home Dad in Lansing doesn’t have many role models as a SAHD — but hopes to be one to his daughter. (@tessasdad)
• Am I a Role Model? A Review — Deb at Science@home brings attachment parenting out of the baby age and shows how it applies (with science fun!) to parenting through all of childhood. (@ScienceMum)
• Say Something Good — Arwyn at Raising My Boychick reminds women that it is within our right to be proud of ourselves without apology. (@RaisingBoychick)
• Try, Try Again — Thomasin at Propson Palingenesis wants to inspire like the Little Engine that Could.
• I’m a Parenting Inspiration, Who Knew? — Sarah at OneStarryNight has received several beautiful comments about just what an inspiration she has been, if not in real life then definitely online. (@starrymom)
• That Little Thing — NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing demonstrates the ripple effect, one status update at a time. (@BlkWmnDoBF)
• How Has Your Day Been? — mrs green @ littlegreenblog inspired her friend to be an active listener for her children. (@myzerowaste)
• No, Thank You! — If you are reading Maman A Droit’s post, you’ve probably inspired her. (@MamanADroit)
• My Top 3 Natural Parenting Principles — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now describes how her family’s natural and Montessori principles inspired others. (@DebChitwood)
• My Hope for a Better Life — Mandy at Living Peacefully With Children hopes her choices inspire her children toward a better life.
• Natural Parenting Felt Natural — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes didn’t plan on natural parenting — but her son led her there. (@sheryljesin)

• Rest. Is it even possible? — Janet at where birth and feminism intersect has found that even role models need rest — and that there are ways to fit it into everyday parenting life. (@feministbirther)
• May Carnival of Natural Parenting: Role model — Lauren at Hobo Mama was the fortunate recipient of a seed of inspiration, and has been privileged to plant some of those seeds herself, though she didn’t know it at the time. (@Hobo_Mama)
• crunchspiration — the grumbles at grumbles and grunts wants to inspire others to parent from their heart. (@thegrumbles)
• No Extra Inspiration Required — Zoey at Good Goog doesn’t think she inspires anyone and wasn’t inspired by anyone in return — except by her daughter. (@zoeyspeak)
• Upstream Parenting — Luschka at Diary of a First Child blogs for that one mother in one hundred who will find her words helpful. (@diaryfirstchild)
• Parenting Advice for the Girl from Outer Space — If Mommy Soup at Cream of Mommy Soup could give one piece of inspirational advice to new parents, it would be to parent with kindness. (@MommySoup)
• Natural Parenting Carnival — Role Model — Sarah at Consider Eden feels the pressure at trying — and failing — to live up to her role models. (@ConsiderEden)
• May Carnival of Natural Parenting: Role Model — Dionna at Code Name: Mama encourages natural parenting mamas to take joy in the fact that they are touching lives and making a difference to children every day. (@CodeNameMama)
• Inspiration Goes Both Ways — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! is flustered that people consider her a breastfeeding role model — but the lovely comments she’s received prove it’s so. (@bfmom)
• My Seven — Danielle at born.in.japan has identified seven role models in her life who brought her to natural parenting. Who are your seven? (@borninjp)
• A Quiet Example — Alison at BluebirdMama was one of the first parents in her group of friends — and has come to see almost all those friends follow in her natural birthing footsteps, whether intentionally or not.
• Gentle Discipline Warrior — Paige at Baby Dust Diaries has inspired a gentle discipline movement — join her! (@babydust)
• Change The World… One Parent At A Time — Mamapoekie is more comfortable inspiring parents online than she is in real life. (@mamapoekie)
• Inspirational Parenting — pchanner at A Mom’s Fresh Start has intentionally tried to be a role model but was unprepared for how soon someone would take notice. (@pchanner)
• My Inspiration — Erin at A Beatnik’s Beat on Life has written thank-you letters to everyone who’s inspired her to become the lactivist and natural parenting advocate she is today. (@babybeatnik)