I read some Mommy-blogs today and the vast majority commented at some point about unsolicited advice. I hated feeling so left out since I have never joined the fray berating these women for their lack of parenting skills.
I have no children, and as I mentioned in my last entry, no intention of having any in the near future. Therefore, I am perfectly qualified to give no advice whatsoever. However, as a pediatric dietitian, I offer this much as far as feeding your children:
1. Pay attention to your mommy sense, not your mommy's sense or your coworker's sense or even your 3rd cousin's dog's sense.
2. Breastfeed your child for a year. It is the only effective method of infant feeding. You may choose to disrespect this fact or be precluded from practicing it, but a fact it remains.
3. Commit to memory every word written by Ellyn Satter. She is THE authority on child feeding. Your doctor, mother, cousin, etc. will never equal her in wisdom or fact.
4. Learn to say no to juice, soda and fast food even if your child cries, begs, or gets straight As.
and...
5. Pay little attention to people who don't have children.
In conclusion, you're doing fine. Give yourself credit.
Parents spend every day staring at insensible little creatures who are slowly coming in to their own by constantly putting themselves in peril. The parents I see every day look scared, overwhelmed, and deeply in love with those rug rats they guard. I am 28 and barely able to keep my life together. No one relies on me for their sustenance, which is a blessing to the children who have dodged my womb (despite the insistence of my right ovary). Beyond telling the facts of my profession, I could never say one thing to a person brave enough to walk through life as a mother or father, except:
Bravo. I have yet to meet a better soul.
6 comments:
You are such a doll!
I love the new look of your blog...I was just here a few hours ago...you've been busy!
Inspiring!
I hope I can stick to the "no fast food" thing as my child is growing up, but alas, I am but a weak human and occasionally the lure of the Quarter Pounder with Cheese is too great to resist! :)
Ditto on loving the new look.
So I take it you were reading about mommy drive-by's at getupgrrl - really fascinating stuff. Motherhood seems such a bewildering, alien landscape to my childless self - so I love reading about the whole thing in advance of the actual experience (if that ever happens). Glad to get your take on some of it - considering your profession, I was curious what you would think about some of the drive-by subject matter.
Wow. I logged on today to delete this post because I thought it might be offensive. You either have great fortitude or it was not as strong as I feared.
Thanks for your comments on the look. I felt it better represented the content - since I'm quite enjoying the experience, I wanted to fancy up a bit.
Okay, the fast food thing. We all give in occasionally. Just remember that 'variety' of intake means varying your fruits, vegetables and grains - not your fast food chains!
I wasn't offended in the least.
I do find it interesting that my monster REFUSES to eat certain foods (i.e. fruits, vegetables, etc.) at my house but gobbles them down with no question at our neighbors house. I think it must be that the neighbor is a guy...who my son adores and mimicks in everything he does.
Whatever works!
Is your son, by chance, in grade school? Peer-influenced eating is a trademark of that era. Sorry about it...he will eventually lecture you on how you should have taught him better eating habits. Prepare the eye roll today because you'll need it when he goes to college.
Post a Comment