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Jennifer Bass

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What does "natural parenting" really mean? How do you define it?

As a mother of one (expecting a second) I want to breast feed, co-sleep, baby wear, and raise happy, securely attached, media-free children. But I also want to pursue the personal goals that I've spent a lifetime working toward. I believe that the above methods really are best for babies and kids, and that I never did them as well as I wanted to. So how do we raise children "naturally" without exhausting ourselves and abandoning our own dreams/goals? How do other cultures do it?

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  • Edwin Jose Palathinkal

    • +1
    Jul 8 2011: I was born in India. My grandmother used to put me on her lap and play the piano when I was an year old. I was fascinated by it so I play the piano as an amateur even though I have other more important life goals.

    My uncle used to give me all his tools to play with, I used to hammer nails into blocks of wood when I was 3 it was favorite hobby. Meanwhile uncle used to make me tiny electronic playthings he made with components and solder. This got me interested in electronics as something magical when I was 3-10. I started desiring to be magical like he is. I also learned programming LOGO when I was 6 in 1991 because I went to a school (run by missionaries) which had computers back then.

    I got a diploma in computer engg, and a degree in computational biology when I grew up. I work for a 100 million $ hedge fund now utilizing all the skills I learned.

    Moral of the story: Show them everything magical when they are young. Don't force them to do any magic. Just show the best of what human beings are capable of. They will want to do it. Kids are born to want to be super heroes.

    • Jennifer Bass

      • 0
      Jul 8 2011: I love this idea. Our most interesting moments with our son are when we invite him to participate in what we do (cooking, gardening, even taking out the trash!). Of course in reality we make our livings working computers all day long, so our son stays in a day care environment that is far from authentic. Everything is just "busy work" and it bores him.
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    Arjan Neumann

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    Jul 8 2011: What u do now is not natural parenting. I think you should not always do the good thing, they should be prepared on unexpected. Be creative with this, do not lie to your child to protect him, this will weaken human race after many generations. Child's learn from mistakes, and copy behavior. So don't give all in wrapped package when u want to teach some but trigger the kid to discover a little their self. Just make sure they understand the goal of the thing you want to teach. Remember when u vocally try to teach always explain why. Maybe it's good to start with why and afterwards just tell how. Because kids have the natural gift to just repeat as soon as possible. You can also let your child teach u things
    for example you just act like you can't do something. Like that you can trigger the child to be social, then after u thank the child and it will get natural drug in brains. That will make u happy also and your child will amaze you ! But be sure you don't make her to social because living creatures need to be egoistic in first place.

    I didn't read this somewhere i all made this up. but should work
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