trying some new things

Ok...I'm just going to pretend I haven't missed 2 years and jump straight back in. ok?!

I like to think we do pretty well parenting our babies. I'm pretty responsive and gentle, they are breastfed to need, sleep wherever they like, no pressure etc etc. It's becoming increasingly apparent that as they get older we revert back to our own childhoods of yelling, smacking and manipulation. Don't get me wrong, I still think we're pretty good parents but the fact is those tactics don't work particularly well. I still think our children are delightful and mostly empathetic little people for their ages, I just find this method is leading to tension and stress we could all do without. SO what to do? I've read quite a few books about what NOT to do but all this natural/ attachment parenting bibles are light on with practical how to's. I think that's their point of course, to help me tailor our parenting to our children's needs. I have tried a bit of this 'let them do what they like and trust them to do the right thing' kind of thing, not sure the official term but it's absolutely not for me, I've come to realise I believe kids need firm yet gentle boundaries as we guide them growing up.
Anyway, this wasn't supposed to be about me learning new stuff, not me lecturing...long story short, I came across this blog last night and particularly this post and it really made sense to me. It's going to be hard for us to change our habits but we both want to and both see how this current method isn't really meeting our kids needs. This blog has loads of great info about gentle parenting, looking forward to reading the rest!

over a year later...

I have just spent a lovely evening reminiscing and reading through my posts here. Seems like a lifetime ago!

We now have 4 children snoozing, our 4th, who didn't even exist last post is 4 months old, another little man. The biggest boy is almost 7 and finishing kindy, very ready for class one, the princess is not long 5 and loving kindy :) My baby boy is not not even really a toddler and was 3 last month, he is such a rough nut and yet so sweet too :) I'm still on maternity leave until February and although enjoying my time at home, I miss work too. Trying to make the most of this time though, it's most definitely my last lot of maternity leave. Mark had a vasectomy while I was pregnant and while I'm a bit wistful, I am mostly relieved and a little excited! Onwards and upwards, onto the next phase!

ooh it's been a while!

Thinking about restarting this. I have really missed blogging, nice to let it out!

Just marking a place and I will come back....soon I hope!