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"New Age" Grandma
Modern Parenting Meets Dr. Spock
By Kate Midden
My mantra as a mother 25 years ago was, "Dr. Spock says." His rules were golden, his books my "bibles."
Today's "new age" mother is better informed and privy to an overwhelming variety of sources, including the vast wealth of information available on the Internet. Does more knowledge produce better parents? Or does it just confuse them more? Time will tell, but for now, I'm keeping my mouth shut, hoping the angst I'm feeling is just a sign of old age.
My education as a "new age" grandmother started well before the birth of my grandson with the concept of diaper-free baby. How in the world do you raise an infant without a diaper? And why would any sane parent attempt it? Instead of taking my normal tack –"Are you out of your mind?" – I approached the subject more gently. "I've never heard of that. Can you explain it to me?"
Listening with horror, keeping an open mind while trying not to laugh, I learned that diaper-less babies are healthier (no diaper rash), happier (it's natural) and free of the negative side effects of toddler potty training. I kept my feelings to myself but did make a side bet with my husband on how long our grandson would stay diaper-free once he arrived.
Next on my learning list was the family bed, a foreign idea to a Dr. Spock mother, even though I'd been introduced to the concept watching the HBO Series "Six Feet Under." Definition: mother, father and baby sleep together in the same bed to promote bonding as a family unit, often continuing until the child is several years old.
How does a parent sleep soundly with a baby in the bed? Aren't they afraid they will roll on the infant? I do envision using the family bed as a method of birth control, but I have difficulty imagining continued parental bonding without occasional sex. And if contraception fails, do all four members of the family share the bed? I'm biting my tongue.
