AP Blog Carnival – Page 5

Attachment Parenting Month 2009 Blog Carnival of Growth

Happy Attachment Parenting Month! “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” is the AP Month 2009 theme. “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” is a statement that a healthy and secure attachment between parent and child is a dynamic process that extends beyond infancy and throughout childhood. During AP Month 2009, parents are challenged to re-examine their daily activities and traditions and learn new ways to grow with each other and remain close and supportive.

API Speaks would like to reflect on, and demonstrate how, we (as parents) remained and will remain “Attached at the Heart Through the Years”. Earlier this month, we requested entries for the Attachment Parenting Month 2009 blog carnival. API received a variety of responses. Without further adieu, I present you with the Attachment Parenting Month 2009 Blog Carnival.

How Long? – House of Boys

There’s a song by the Dixie Chicks that I love. A song that I like to listen to over and over again. I like to sing it to my babies while dancing. A song that describes why I want to be an attached parent. The words speak to me and bring a calmness to my soul. The words remind me to take life slowly.

Great Expectations – The Eclectic Mom

I once knew the perfect mother. She was amazing. She absolutely beamed the glory of motherhood. Her children clustered around her, happily playing and singing, simultaneously gleefully independent and decidedly attached.

Uncovering the Truth About Cosleeping – Khoresht-e Catfish

When I became a mother I didn’t subscribe to any one parenting philosophy. I read all the books and formed my opinions when I was pregnant, but the minute Azita was born all of that went straight to the medical waste can.

Continue reading “Attachment Parenting Month 2009 Blog Carnival of Growth”

Attachment Parenting and Autism

ap_and_autism_1 The following post, Attachment Parenting and Autism, has been submitted by Amy as part of the AP Month 2009 blog carnival. If you are interested in participating in the carnival, view the AP Month 2009 blog carnival information post. If you’re like Amy and don’t have your own blog, you can email your submission to API and we will publish your post and include it in the carnival.
*****

I didn’t choose AP as much as Daniel chose it for me. He was a relentless child, even in the womb, who moved, rolled, hiccuped constantly. I gave in 1/3 out of love, 2/3 out of sheer desperation and need for survival. He was only happy being held, so I held him. He would only sleep next to me, so I cuddled him. I breastfed at will and watched my son thrive. He weighed well over 11 lbs at only one month old!

He grew, beautiful and perfect. He hit milestones and we celebrated. He was very attached, as was I. I couldn’t stand to be without him. I grew weary of justifying it to the world; I truly enjoy the company of my child! We enjoy co-sleeping and breastfeeding.

ap_and_autism_2 I can’t tell you when he changed. Looking back, there is no particular “ah ha!” moment. I know that one day Daniel said “Hat!” and I rejoiced. It was our first new word in months. I began to notice that my child could say “hat” and little else. He moved constantly, always on the go. He was into everything and still would not talk. When his peers were making simple sentences and observations, we still only had “hat.” Words were slowly disappearing. We justified, blaming our recent moves, new baby and changes in routine.
Continue reading “Attachment Parenting and Autism”

AP Month 2009 Blog Carnival of Growth

Happy Attachment Parenting Month! “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” is the theme for AP Month 2009 and a statement that healthy, secure attachments between parents and children is a dynamic process that extends throughout childhood that extends beyond infancy. During AP Month 2009, parents are challenged to re-examine their daily activities and traditions and learn new ways to grow with each other and remain close and supportive.

API Speaks would like to reflect on, and demonstrate how, we (as parents) remained and will remain “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” and one way we’re going to do that is with an Attachment Parenting Month blog carnival.

To participate in the carnival, submit a post on one or more of the following topics as we celebrate growth:

Ways in which you’ve flexed through tough transition periods
Ways in which your routines and traditions have subtly or dramatically changed to accommodate your child’s growth and maturity
Challenges you’ve faced as your child grew that you never expected and how you resolved them
Ways in which you’ve grown as a parent

To participate, simply publish a post on one of the previous topics to your blog with the following text:

This post is part of the Attachment Parenting Month blog carnival, hosted by Attachment Parenting International. Learn more about how you can stay “Attached at the Heart Through the Years” by visiting API Speaks, the blog of Attachment Parenting International.

Once your post is completed, please send an email with a link to your AP Month post to moderator AT attachmentparenting DOT org. Submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, October 14 at noon PDT. API Speaks will then link to your post on Monday, October 19. We may publish multiple posts, depending on how many submissions are received.

If you do not have a blog, but would like to submit a guest post for AP Month, please contact me at the email address above.

The Carnival of Presence Wrap-up

We had many wonderful participants in the first-ever Carnival of Presence here on API Speaks. And that doesn’t include the guest posters and regular contributors who have shared their stories about giving their children presence all month long!

First, I’d like to take a moment to announce the wonderful Attachment Parenting Month prizes we have available here on API Speaks. Those who participated in the carnival, linked to the carnival on their blog, and those who go out and read one of the entries below and comment on this post with their thoughts on the carnival entry they read will all get a chance to win one of the following prizes:

Grand Prize: A one-year membership to Attachment Parenting International.
First Prize: A set of Bless You Mom affirmation cards and a copy of Judy Arnall’s book, Discipline Without Distress.
Honorable Mention: A copy of The Successful Child from the Sears Parenting Library.

Second, I’d like to announce the topic for next month Attachment Parenting Carnival: Nighttime Parenting. How do you respond with sensitivity to your child’s nighttime needs?

And finally, I’d like to tell you about another fun AP Month activity: <strong>The AP Month Photo & Essay Contests!</strong> All parents love to talk about their children and who doesn’t like to show off their adorable pictures? Now’s your chance: There’s no fee to participate, and you don’t have to be a member to enter. Not only could you see your photo or essay published on our website or in one of our publications, but there are a number of other prizes available, too. For more information, including where to email your photo or essay, check out the essay contest guidelines and the photo contest rules.

And now for the entries!

Alicia Bayer talks about cherishing each step in a her children’s growth in Being Present posted at Magic and Mayhem.
Stephanie Precourt shares the story of deciding to conceive her third child in Adventures in Babywearing: Here posted at Adventures in Babywearing.
Shelly talks about being present, even when your child is angry, in A Guiding Presence posted at Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother.
Elisa Forshey talks about which aspects of AP work for their family in Attachment Parenting Month posted at Herb of Grace.
Shen-Li talks about what brought her to Attachment Parenting in Choosing a Parenting Style | Babylicious posted at Babylicious.
Harmony Rose West talks about baby’s favorite place: A Mother’s Lap posted at Bless You Mom.
Heather posts her thoughts on presence and a poem in My Gift posted at It’s Twinsanity.
Tiffany shares the promises she’s making her children with regards to giving her presence in Giving Our Children the Gift of Presence posted at Green and Natural Parenting.
J o e y & A l e e t h e a shares a post on how presence with your children can be relaxing too in what really matters? posted at J o e y & A l e e t h e a.
Christina Geyer talks about how the generous parental leave in Germany is allowing her to give her child presence in How “socialism” helps me give my child presence posted at Mamas Worldwide.
Candace shares how difficult it is to slow down and just be with your children in A Present of Presence posted at Mama Saga.
Denise describes a day in the life of a mama with six children in Goodbye Lazy Summer Days posted at There’s always room for one more.
Mon relates the importance of giving our children presence even during challenging (sleepless!) times in presence posted at Holistic Mama.
Alisha describes their ritual Friday Night Pizza night in Friday Night = Family Night | Uber Parents posted at Uber Parents.
east end jenn tells how one working family finds time for presence in Sign Us Up: Sometimes a Full Schedule Can Mean More Time For Each Other posted at Postcards From The East End.

API Speaks’ Carnival of Presence!

Happy Attachment Parenting Month! API Speaks has dedicated the month to Giving Our Children Presence and one way we’re going to do that is with the first in a series of monthly AP Carnivals.

To participate in the carnival, submit a post on how you give your children your presence to our Blog Carnival registry by Wednesday, October 15, at 2pm Mtn, and we’ll link to your post on Monday, October 20.

There will be prizes for those who participate as well as those who spread the word (even if you don’t have a blog, you can submit a short post in the comments section), so check back often. Besides, you don’t want to miss some of our fabulous guest posters who will be sprinkled throughout the month.