HELP ME...PLEASE

[kristieschultz]

I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend anyone either or imply in any way that someone's children's needs weren't being met. I could not imagine having to work a demanding job without adequate sleep. I have not had to do that because I decided to stay home once my daughter was born. Of course, we're broke, but I just knew I could not function that way. I just feel lucky that I could stay home with her because I know that alot of people cannot do that. Also, thanks to Cathe's workouts, even when I would wake up several times during the night I was NEVER tired the next day. There is definitely more than one right way to raise a kid, and people do it differently. So, please don't take offense to what I said before! I guess I just felt like I had to chime in there with my opinion. Sorry!

Glad to hear the little one is sleeping now! Good luck!

Kristie Schultz

 

[TarHeelMom]

Angela...

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-04-02 AT 12:34PM (Est)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-04-02 AT 12:33 PM (Est)[/font]

You're obviously a good mommy, my dear, and it sounds like you've evaluated everyone's needs and found a compromise that is working for all of you AND is caring lovingly for Nate.

None of our babies came with an instruction manual, and this is all on the job training of the most intense and stressful kind (albeit the most joyful, to be sure ). Every mother has to find a pathway for mothering her child -- each child -- in a way that is right for that child AND that mother and the rest of her family. I do not believe that anyone in this thread has intended to harshly judge you at all. I think that you're just seeing a small sampling of mothering decisions -- and if we ended up with 100 posts here, you'd probably see 90 variations on advice for how to "successfully" mother a sleepless child. But what worked for my babies might not work at all for you and your family. So my advice, for what it's worth, is to continue to trust your instincts, which are clearly loving and appropriately concerned and prioritized (IMHO). Listen to what others suggest, and filter that advice through what you know about your own baby and your own family's needs.

Take care and enjoy that wonderful baby boy AND having your hubby back in the snuggle sack with you!



http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport003.gif [FONT C OLOR=Blue]Kathy S.[/FONT]

 

[candori]

I'm glad...

...that we all can share our opinions here. Really. I admit that I'm a tad sensitive on this issue and I'm sorry if any of this thread got out of hand. I realize the only thing you can do is follow your heart when raising your baby. Therein lies the problem...if I follow my heart...I get no sleep.

Sadly, I continue to struggle with Nate's sleeping patterns off and on. One night he'll do great and the next, he's screaming his head off as soon as I put him down. When those moments arise, I begin to second guess this method and it's so, so, so difficult to hear that other people think it's cruel. I literally ache when he cries and it goes against every fiber of my being not to pick him up to comfort him, so I tend to get a little crazy. Sorry if anything I wrote came across mean. I just don't know what else to do to teach him that the crib is a happy place to fall asleep and that I'll be there for him if he really needs me.

I hope no one walks away hurt from anything I've said. It's a tough issue...no matter what.