Staceymom, I thought your post was beautiful. Drewsmom, I think you can say both that you understand and then something about how you try to remind yourself that they are just trying to communicate their needs or whatever, then you can still give a different viewpoint without coming across like your being critical.
Momnloveit, I don't think it means your not meeting her needs, if she is calm you obviosly are. Kids are different. Some don't cry much b/c all their needs are being met before they have to cry. And some cry a lot b/c they have a lot more needs (like w. some high needs kids, they just need to be held 24 /7) I do think sometimes there are kids who end up never expressing their needs because they've been ignored too long, or some kids who are always crying b/c their needs are never being met. but I think that anyone who even follows some of the basic AP principles wouldn't have these problems. I hope I am making some sense here.
I also have had sort of a "wake-up" moment. Ds has been sleeping horribly the past week or so, waking every hour or half hour. I've been going crazy. Finally last night I realized that I have been giving him so little attention all day. I just found out that I am pregnant again, and I have been exhausted, so I've been sitting in front of the tv all day, or maybe reading him a few books. Poor kid. So last night I decided that tv is not going on at all, and we went to the park, for a walk, and to the library. He took a better nap and seems happier, so I agree with what everyone is saying about more attention to kids during the day. I haven't told anyone yet about being pregnant (you guys are the first! After dh of course), but I was wondering about suggestions for happily getting through pregnancy w. a one year old, and we are still nursing big time, I need advice on this too!!! Thanks guys!!
Momnloveit, I don't think it means your not meeting her needs, if she is calm you obviosly are. Kids are different. Some don't cry much b/c all their needs are being met before they have to cry. And some cry a lot b/c they have a lot more needs (like w. some high needs kids, they just need to be held 24 /7) I do think sometimes there are kids who end up never expressing their needs because they've been ignored too long, or some kids who are always crying b/c their needs are never being met. but I think that anyone who even follows some of the basic AP principles wouldn't have these problems. I hope I am making some sense here.
I also have had sort of a "wake-up" moment. Ds has been sleeping horribly the past week or so, waking every hour or half hour. I've been going crazy. Finally last night I realized that I have been giving him so little attention all day. I just found out that I am pregnant again, and I have been exhausted, so I've been sitting in front of the tv all day, or maybe reading him a few books. Poor kid. So last night I decided that tv is not going on at all, and we went to the park, for a walk, and to the library. He took a better nap and seems happier, so I agree with what everyone is saying about more attention to kids during the day. I haven't told anyone yet about being pregnant (you guys are the first! After dh of course), but I was wondering about suggestions for happily getting through pregnancy w. a one year old, and we are still nursing big time, I need advice on this too!!! Thanks guys!!
