I know sometimes that I end up in tears as DS is in tears and I feel at a loss and ready to yell or lose my patience or just give up (I haven't....yet!! :P) but I think that comes with the territory of being a parent. I see people out shopping with their kids constantly yelling and threatening or bribing their kids. I can see how frazzled they are, but I can see they are in a never ending cycle and their kids are in it with them.
But I then look at the big picture and realise that my gentle parenting is paying big dividends in the love and pride I have for my family. And I realise that although we have phases of the cycle, we always come out of it at the other end.
I think in regards to sleeping, yes I have felt disheartened. Waking up all night for cuddles and feeds is beyond exhausting..it's shattering (I know I don't have to tell you that!!) But I have seen with my own eyes, some people close to us that have used cc and other 'let them cry it out' methods and it has CLEARLY had a huge effect on their kids. This has made me stick to my guns about gentle parenting. I can most definitely see hugely positive benefits from the way we raise our kids.
Hugs first and agreeance second... I would go through times when i thought '' im doing all this wrong, dd is screaming at me, im rocking her for hours and she is still awake'' and sometimes i would just put her down in the cot, still crying and think...the pro-CIOers must be right...I wouldnt get far before i took a deep breath and run back to my little baby. You just have to do what feels right and TRUST the way you have decided to do things.
SO..i BF DD to sleep now...but that isnt a failure, its a choice and she will learn to SS sometime...i wont still be BF her to sleep when she is 15...(i hope )
HUGE hugs to you. well done for the amazing job your doing!!
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