With other moms in particular, I've experience about all I can handle of this type of crap. I understand that it's a delicate subject, parenting is, but you have to be confident enough to know that you made, or are making, the best decision for you and your family. This isn't always going to be the same way everyone else does it, and it certaintly is NEVER going to be the ONLY way of doing it. So when you make a decision, just stick with it and know it's YOURS to make for a reason, you will know what's best for your kid(s). So who cares what Sally from PTA or Ellen from Facebook think? Do they have to deal with your kid(s) everyday? Do they really know you even? Probably not, so take a breather and don't let it get to you.
That being said, I've encountered a gross amount of moms who seem to think that just because I openly admit that I don't plan on doing things their way, I MUST be calling them a crap mom. Well guess what. I'm not, and I won't ever. Why? Because not only is it just not my style to put some one down about anything, much less something so personal, I really, truly, honest-to-goodness, DONT CARE. Don't now, and probably won't ever. As long as you aren't molesting or abusing your child, there is not a reason in the whole world for me to give a rap about what you do with them. As if I even had the time to pay attention.
I choose not to vaccinate on schedule, not to use pacifiers, not to feed on a set schedule, and to cloth diaper when I can. These things seem to have caused many an issue with other moms. Usually, it looks like a really self-concious and defensive mom just can't handle that their way isn't the ONLY way. I researched each of my decisions and weighed the pros and cons. As I hope every mom does at some point in time, anyways. And through that process, I decided what was best for ME. This doesn't mean I 'dissaprove' of your way, it just means it wasn't for me. I don't know how to further communicate this difference. I've been pretty blunt about things, because I hate playing games with people. Why don't I use pacifiers? Because:
1. I plan on breastfeeding, and it can cause 'nipple confusion' if you don't have a good handle on it in the beginning.
2. I can't afford to go buy a new one every day when one gets lost.
3. I dont want the anxiety of my child NEEDING a material item to soothe themselves, should I lose this item on a public outting, I don't want to be spazzing to get ahold of one, or have to pay a ridiculous price just to keep my kid from screaming.
4. I've seen 5 yr olds with pacifiers. No joke. I don't usually judge, but I admit that after like 1 yr, I would really freak out if my kid still needed a paci to soothe themselves. Not only does it loose the cute factor big time and just become really frustrating, but msot dentists will tell you that after 12 mos it can cause dental difficulties, like protruding front teeth and depending on what foods they eat, in combination with the paci, it can literally rot their teeth before they even come in.
There's that for an example. I DO research these things. I'm not just a sadist that doesn't want my daughter to be able to calm herself, actually the opposite. I'm hoping with the absence of this item, she can learn to calm herself for years to come with a strategy that has nothing to do with a paci. That being said, when parents do use pacifiers, I think nothing of it. That's right. While people look at me and will literally have the nerve to say "that poor baby!" about a lot of my decisions, when I see some one elses kid with one, I think nothing. Really. I don't care. In fact, happen to think newborns with pacis are adorable....I even bought some micro-sized pacifiers becuase they are just so cute. Have you seen one? New born pacifiers are SO tiny.
p.s. I don't know that baby. But I found it online and it's cute.
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