Parenting Styles
It is easy to judge how others parent, discipline and raise their children. Somehow I find myself believing that the way I parent is better or healthier or more effective. The truth is... parenting is HARD. And the more experience I gain as a parent, the more I realize that every parent does what she or he can with the knowledge, wisdom, resource, and finance that are given to them.
When you first have a child, you have a plan. Some will plan to birth naturally, others will schedule a c-section. Some will plan to breastfeed for a year, others choose to give formula. Some will plan to sleep with their baby, others will choose not to. Some will plan to spank their child, others will choose to discipline a different way.... Well, soon you find out that these are just plans... Sometimes you do the best you can, and it doesn't go as planned.. Other times you realize that what you thought would work, simply doesn't.. so you try something else. This is what happens in the course of parenting.. trial and error.
Having grace and understanding towards the way others parent is crucial... You don't want to be judgmental of others because you never know what their situation is like. It is also important to have a teachable heart.. You can learn A LOT from other moms...and let's face it, we're not even sure if we're doing the right thing half the time!!