Family Bonding

By Nicole Merson

I am a first-time mom of a beautiful and healthy 8-month old boy, who is a whopping 24 lbs, and has had probably fewer than 10 jars of baby food in his entire life! He is remarkably happy--someone once described him, quite accurately as "gleeful"--and is full of charm and personality. He sleeps with us in our bed, and it has been a beautiful experience.

My stepdaughter, 11, lives with us, and has had her very first experience with attachment parenting, family bed, and breastfeeding. She has asked a number of interested questions, and has really taken in this new (and probably strange, at first) experience with love and wonder. What happened tonight reinforces my convictions that there is no other way to raise a baby. I laid Riley down to sleep in our bed, and went downstairs to finish cooking dinner with my husband. He was whimpering a bit, but was on his way to sleep. I had nursed him for a while, and he was nearly asleep. However, I could hear him start to snuffle, and was giving the pasta one last stir before heading up to see what he needed.

I stopped, however, when I heard Ashlon on the monitor, talking to her little brother, comforting him, as she learned to do from us. "It's ok," she crooned, "I'll sit with you. Mommy will be right up, but I'll hold you". I heard the sheets rustle as she laid down in bed with him and stroked his head to calm him down. As my heart began to melt, I heard her whisper, "I have no boobies, but Mommy will bring hers when she comes up." Although a bit funny, it was more deeply touching. She had learned, by example, that babies needs should be responded to immediately, and she understood the gentle love that calms her brother. My breastfeeding my child has not only made our bond stronger, but made stronger the bond between my son and each of the other members of our family. I will always remember that the way I parent my children is an example to others to respond actively to children, to embrace them at every opportunity, and to place their needs even ahead of your own.