Welcome!

Welcome to Parent Naturally!

I created this blog as a way to help out those parents out there who may be a little frustrated, unsure or who are secretly raising their children according to Attachment Parenting.
Be proud of who you are as a parent and the secure bond that you are creating with your child. Believe in yourself as a parent. You already have the necessary tools, you just have to use them. The secret to raising happy, secure children is to help them feel happy and secure first! And trust me, you can do it!
I'll post some random tidbits, findings, anecdotes and questions, and posts about specific issues. I welcome thoughts, comments and ideas! Parenting shouldn't be a solitary thing; everyone can use a little support :)

Who's the Expert? You're the Expert!

You'll find tons of books out there and some very helpful (and some not so helpful) people with all kinds of advice and ideas of how to best raise your children. "Make sure you do this", "Definitely don't do that!" But what if deep down inside you just don't feel right doing what the "experts" say you need to?
Well, I'm going to share a little secret with you....you're the expert.
Now, don't get me wrong, there are times when consulting books or calling up mom really does help (I'll admit, my Dr. Sears book is within arms reach), but overall you'll know what is best for you and your family.
If it's not causing any harm, is safe and helpful then go for it. Sometimes, as a parent you will do things that you said you wouldn't do because "it's not right", but then you went and had a baby and guess what? Turns out that that thing you said you'd never do is the only thing that feels right!
What's the secret? Smile and nod, a lot. Say "thank you for the idea" and "oh, I never thought of doing that before" and then walk away or change the subject. People loooooove to give tips and opinions, it's up to you what you do with them. If something that they say sounds good (and there will be times that anything will sound like a good idea) then give it a try, if not move on with your life and push that tidbit out of your memory (I suggest replacing it with a delicious sounding recipe you found on Pinterest).
Listen to yourself. If something that you're doing doesn't feel right to you, then it's not right for you. Try something else.
Listen to your child. Children and babies will let you know if something is not working for them, usually they tell you this in a very loud, deafening manner, and it's up to you to find out what will help them. They may simply need to be closer to you (perhaps a hug or sleeping with you is what they need). In order to raise secure happy children, they need to first feel secure.
Parenting Naturally is all about following your heart and creating a close, secure bond with your children. No one knows your family better than you, believe in yourself and your parenting abilities.