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Entries from June 2008

Volunteer Spotlight

June 29th, 2008 · No Comments

We have had more volunteers step up to help API further our mission of educating and supporting “all parents in raising secure, joyful, and empathic children in order to strengthen families and create a more compassionate world” and for that we are incredibly grateful! We seek to offer more innovative and creative ways to educate [...]

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Tags: General Interest

The little scientist

June 26th, 2008 · No Comments

Long before our daughter was born, I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom and I love it. I can’t say it’s always easy. Looking after a toddler requires lots and lots of energy. But then it also provides lots and lots of hugs and kisses!
As a first time mom, when my daughter was a newborn I [...]

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Tags: General Interest · Practice Positive Discipline · Provide Consistent & Loving Care · Respond with Sensitivity

Feeding an Orally Defensive Child with Love and Respect

June 24th, 2008 · No Comments

One of API’s Eight Principles is Feeding with Love and Respect which encourages parents to follow through beyond the infant and toddler years and follow their older children’s cues when it comes to eating. As a parent of an orally defensive child, I can say first-hand that taking this approach saved lots of tears [...]

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Tags: Children with Special Needs · Feed with Love and Respect

Nurse until you cry.

June 23rd, 2008 · No Comments

I thought I would share some important information I discovered about nursing. Finding it changed my life.
The other day I popped over to Pumproom Confessions and saw a button on the sidebar that said “Breastfeeding shouldn’t be a downer.” As I am ever interested in the world of nursing, and an advocate for breastfeeding, I [...]

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Tags: Feed with Love and Respect

Permission to Parent?

June 22nd, 2008 · No Comments

Is it just me or is our society ridiculously quick to expect moms and babies to separate? It seems to me that our cultural norm dictates that mothers need “alone time” that can only be meaningful if they do not have a baby or small child along. In my experience with mainstream culture, even “mom [...]

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Tags: General Interest

Neophobia

June 19th, 2008 · No Comments

Originally posted on December 10th, 2007 on Nature Deva’s blog.
When we were on vacation a few months ago, I saw an article in the local paper about how genetics are to blame for picky eaters. This problem is called Neophobia and is considered a normal stage of human development. It was originally an evolutionary [...]

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Tags: General Interest

My life with strollers

June 18th, 2008 · No Comments

If you had asked me, when my first child was a year old, if I ever thought I’d own a stroller, I would have said no. After all, if I hadn’t needed one up to that point, why would I need one in the future? We’d been all kinds of places without a [...]

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Tags: General Interest · Respond with Sensitivity · Use Nurturing Touch

Respectful Feeding for a Lifetime

June 17th, 2008 · No Comments

Every one of the API principles are incorporated in my home, and I believe in the wisdom of all of them. However one particular principle, feed with love and respect, strikes particularly close to my heart. This has been a hugely important aspect of my parenting journey in regards to my now [...]

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Tags: Feed with Love and Respect

Separation Parenting?

June 16th, 2008 · 3 Comments

Sometimes when folks learn we co-sleep with our kids, they suggest, not too subtly, that we do so in order to meet *our* needs, not those of our kids. While there is something incredibly special about cuddling our kids in the middle of the night, after five years of co-sleeping, I assure you that [...]

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Tags: Adoption · Children with Special Needs · Strive for Balance · Working Mamas

Reflections on Father’s Day

June 14th, 2008 · No Comments

Samantha Gray shared her thoughts for this special Father’s Day post…

I hope the dads in your life have a very Happy Father’s Day! Fatherhood continues to grow in its standards and demands as it is more and more recognized for its important role in the development of children. Being a father is not [...]

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Tags: General Interest