Local AP group...
Here's what the Facebook page states:
Term breastfeeding (aka extended breastfeeding)
Babies should be left
whole and intact and not have their genitals mutilated or amputated
Meeting
our children?s needs
Gentle discipline ? never employing tactics
like ?crying it out? nor spanking
Co-Sleeping/Bed Sharing
Natural
Childbirth
Building the immune system naturally instead of with
vaccinations
Eating whole foods
That a healthy family is one that
aligns itself with nature and finds everything they need for health and
happiness from the abundance that the earth provides
Green/Sustainable
Living
Because these choices are very important to us, and
because there are other groups and venues in which to hang out with
wonderful parents and friends who have different parenting philosophies,
this group is ONLY for those who agree with and practice the above.
This group is exclusively for support of these philosophies and not
discussion/explanation.
________________________
Correct me if I'm wrong...but not all of these are AP, are they? I mean...I think they're adding things in there.... I'd love to join, but I do vax my DD (she's not getting chix pox & Hep 
. I feel like they are really trying to be even more exclusive than regular AP groups that I've heard of.
Re: Local AP group...
wow, that's pretty extreme. What do they have, 3 members?
My local AP group is *much* more hard core than this board. But even they say to, "take what works and leave the rest". They do have a rule you can't advocate CIO or spanking on the board, or early weaning (like, if somebody posts that nursing is hard, you can't say formula is perfectly fine...) but they don't kick out the members who bottle feed.
Weird. Honestly, I wouldn't want ot be a part of that group!
Ditto - they sound pretty judgy and I imagine you'd have more conflicts than the friends were worth.
I had my first "you're not AP enough" moment today. I was given the side eye (OK more like a gawking, total disbelief snarling glare) for allowing my 18-m-o to have cows milk.
I got that look when I said, "You know, just sometimes I wish she would stay asleep in the carseat when we are at a store"
You can be not quite AP enough with me
We'll form our own club...
This is why I'm hesitant to meet up with my local AP group. My DS is circumsized. Mostly b/c I, honestly, didn't do much research about it, and in our family, it's just what's always been done, so I didn't think twice. Would I now? Possibly. But I vax my children (and Dr. Sears isn't anti-vax, he's just a proponent of spreading them out), and had an epi (though I did intend to go natural- wish I'd have sprung for the doula!). The green thing too, has nil to do with actual parenting, but is more of just a lifestyle choice, though I think people who tend to be concerned with the environment, tend to follow more eco-friendly lifestyles.
Overall, that group sounds very elitist, and basically along the lines of, you need to fit into our mold, or you're not welcome... which is not what I want to teach my kids, so I wouldn't want to be a part of a group like that.
LOL, I'll be in your "not quite AP enough" group too.
Hell, I think half our board would belong in it.
i know i'm AP-lite, but really? a lot of that isn't even part of AP.
i remember someone's siggie quote saying there is no way to be a perfect parent by countless ways to be a great one. i like that.
It's not all AP, and I couldn't join it myself as I didn't make all those choices...
but on the other hand, what's wrong with trying to find people who are like you? Maybe it would end up being a group of 3, but if those 3 are happy to have each other's support then that's dandy for them.
It just means you need to set up your own AP group... with gentler rules.
my only problem is that they are labeling it as an AP group, when MANY of those things listed aren't even remotely related to AP. If you want to start a facebook page for people who graduated high school from 1985-1987- that's great, just don't label it "People who graduated high school"
I don't disagree with the idea of wanting to find a support system with like-minded mamas, but I do think it's ridic to imply that not following the "rules" disqualifies you from the group. I mean, I get the c-section rates are out of control, but some are necessary...and if you happen to be one of the unlucky ones you can't be a part of the AP group? Or if you choose to work, you have to do at least some vaccines to even enroll in daycare - then you can't be AP?
It gives a holier-than-thou image of the group, and I agree with the pp that if it's a playdate-type group it really send a bad message to your kiddo as they age that only those who do things like you are suitable for friendship.
I consider myself a pretty big AP advocate, and I started an AP playgroup in my area, but I would never tell someone they can't join because they chose to circ their son.
Yes, this is what bothers me about that as well. Many people already have such a skewed view of what AP means and this just adds fuel to the fire.
I belong to the same local AP group as Suzymarie and, as she said, there are some 'hardcore' members, but the group itself follows the API principals and the leaders are always quick to step up and remind people that API has no official stance on things like cloth diapers and circing.
I would stay far away and if belonging to an AP group is really that important to you, starting your own group that adheres to AP principles as outlined by API. I'll bet there are plenty of other AP leaning mommies in your area who want nothing to do with this group.