I am a little disappointed...

crackerjackprinter · June 2009

in a few of my IRL friends. It's silly, and I would never say it to their faces, but their parenting styles are SO different from mine and it saddens me. Among other things, they do CIO. A couple of them have also gotten it into their heads that their BM supplies are not sufficient so they've started supplementing with formula and/or BM bottles in order to encourage more sleep at night.

Like I said, it's really silly, but I had to put it out there. There's only one other mom who seems to be on my page. I wish it didn't make me feel like such a freak though!

luvlieK · June 2009

I don't have any IRL?friends?to really compare with. ?One of my friends from HS is pg. ?She lives close by. ?I am kinda wondering what her style will be like. ?We are kinda different. ?But she is into organic, bfing, cloth, so I don't know. ?we will see

)

papagena · June 2009

I've had some mental annoyances w/ some of my friends because they are all currently childless, although not too many. I'm afraid I'm a CIO gal (sorry - DS got calmer when we left the room and just got worked up when we went in to comfort him... life is better, and we don't really have to use CIO anymore). I don't know - I guess a lot of people have different experiences and different kids. So many are told that BM isn't enough/formula will help them sleep, etc. If I'd always heard that, I probably would have been tempted to try it, for fear that I was depriving my child. I don't know that I'd be too dissapointed in them, perse. I do understand that it would be wonderful to have a good IRL friend who shared similar parenting styles, but as long as they're not judging you for yours and are supportive...

Lotte134 · June 2009

Have you looked for a local AP group? I love talking with other moms who have similar parenting styles. I actually don't have many close friends with kids so I have no one to compare it to and feel like what I do is the norm just because I don't know any other way. That said, I also agree with Papagena. Some things work for some families and don't for others so just know you are doing what is best for yours.

crackerjackprinter · June 2009

papagena:
I've had some mental annoyances w/ some of my friends because they are all currently childless, although not too many. I'm afraid I'm a CIO gal (sorry - DS got calmer when we left the room and just got worked up when we went in to comfort him... life is better, and we don't really have to use CIO anymore). I don't know - I guess a lot of people have different experiences and different kids. So many are told that BM isn't enough/formula will help them sleep, etc. If I'd always heard that, I probably would have been tempted to try it, for fear that I was depriving my child. I don't know that I'd be too dissapointed in them, perse. I do understand that it would be wonderful to have a good IRL friend who shared similar parenting styles, but as long as they're not judging you for yours and are supportive...

Yeah I agree. That's why I feel bad for even thinking it. I guess it's just hard for me to understand the CIO thing since we've always co-slept and it's so different, you know?

I do try to offer my help, by giving other suggestions for how they can meet their goals, so I feel like I am still being supportive. It just nags at me in the back of my mind and I have to get it out somewhere (and you ladies are much more understanding than DH - he just nods)!