Welcome to my blog! I'll tell you all you ever wanted to know about life in the trenches as I attempt to balance my crazy life as attached mother with two small children, their father (my husband), two dogs, and all of the insanity that goes along with this combination.

I am a SAHM (stay at home mom) married to my best friend and parent to my two boys - ages 3 and 6 months. We never intended on following what is defined as an attachment parenting (AP) style. It just happened as we followed our instincts as we parented our first son as a newborn, then found that many of the things we were doing fit into the AP method. For those of you unfamiliar with attachment parenting, here's the definition from attachmentparenting.org: Attachment Parenting is a philosophy based in the practice of nurturing parenting practices that create strong emotional bonds, also known as secure attachment, between the infant and parent(s). This style of parenting encourages responsiveness to the infant or child's emotional needs, and develops trust that their emotional needs will be met. As a result, this strong attachment helps the child develop secure, empathic, peaceful, and enduring relationships. (http://www.attachmentparenting.org/info.shtml)

Some people think that the way my family operates is strange, or weird or even downright bizzare. It really isn't. However, our practices of co-sleeping with our children, breastfeeding, babywearing, cloth diapering, promoting positive disciple certainly aren't the norm in our society. These aren't strange things to do, and I try to teach my friends and family who are unfamiliar with the stuff we do just how well it works and how my children have benefited.

However, being an AP parent isn't always easy! Sometimes it can be difficult, but I know it's best for our children to stick with what we know is right. It's important to remember that parenting isn't a contest or a checklist. You have to be coginzant of what is right just just for you, but for the children entrused in your care. That's my goal - to raise confident, happy, independent children. So far, so good!

Next time...more about cloth diapers. Oh, the fun never stops!