Consistency is the key...

      I get asked for my opinion on lots of things dealing with kids and lately discipline is at the top of the list and I always try my best to give a very informed answer. Something I've noticed when answering with some parents is when I give them and option, I am met with, "I've already tried that and it didn't work." and then I get to hear a whole list of techniques they have already tried and claim have failed.

    Ok, most of these kids are 2 or 3...not much time to have "tried" all of these things. So, as advice for you guys that read this: Stick with ONE technique. NO more switching every time you need to discipline. Be consistent.

    You know your kid, research ALL discipline techniques and decide which one you think will work best for your child/family/circumstances. Now you need to explain this techniques to ANYONE that is around your child and that disciplines them. Explain it to your child. Now, implement this technique every time for as long as it takes. Which means it may take a month. It may take 100 times of you putting your child back in their time-out spot if you use that. It will take a while to get your child to understand that you mean business and they can't get away with it. The more you do it and stick with it, the better it will work.

     If you are constantly switching every time, your child gets confused and doesn't know what will happen, so, they steadily test you. You seem inconsistent to them and they feel they can get away with everything.

I see this happen often and trust me, I was a mom like that until I was turned on to why it wasn't working. Once I stuck my ground and stayed the course, my son caught on and this works. I have also used this with other kids and see it work. So, I am coming from experience.

I blog because the "SOB" exists...

     After I was "enlightened" to a blog that I was not aware existed, I now remember more than ever why I came to write this blog and keep a Facebook page. New mom's have a hard time as it is knowing what to do and trying to keep up with the latest research and to filter out the greatness from the nonsense. So, to know that a completely rubbish filled blog is out there undermining everything I stand for as a mom and natural parenting and childbirth advocate...it makes me want to fight that much harder for all the moms. Now, while I will say, I don't like epidurals, formula, inductions or even the current vaccine schedule...I don't run a hate site against those that do/follow all of those things. I don't put people down and spew false medical garbage either. I do not claim to be the "be all end all" of childbirth like this lady claims... Seriously, she is all for inductions, epidurals no matter what, c-sections..you name it. She actually even searches EVERY post and blog known to man for anything associated with Natural Child Birth, homebirth, VBAC, you name it and then posts some hate blog about how those people are risking their lives. It is the most appalling thing I have ever read. And yet, she posts no back up proof to anything she writes, but, hoards of people follow her and regurgitate her vile falsities as though it were fact straight from God himself. What can one do to help moms when site like this exist? Sadly, her site is not the only one out there with millions of followers hanging on her every word. There is the ever popular "feeding schedule" book that has been banned by the AAP for producing "failure to thrive" babies. The "training" book and site that advocates for 1/4 in plastic pipe beatings. I don't know how to convert those people, but, I will keep writing and posting and talking until I can't anymore in the hopes that I will have helped at least one mom out. It's what I have to do considering what I know is out there and how vulnerable mom's are and how the most vulnerable may be coerced into those other methods and ways.

So, with that said, I leave you with this: Natural Parenting/Childbirth/Feeding is called that for a reason...because it is natural. It is how nature intended. It is what feels right. It is instinct. Anything that goes against that is not natural.