Guest Author - Laurie Magill

Not long after my son was born I had a visit from a friend, also a new mother. We were eager to chat and compare notes, and indulge in grown-up conversation and cheesecake. During that conversation, fundamental differences in our lifestyles and philosophies were revealed, those things that only come to light as you become a parent. I was breastfeeding, she was formula feeding. We co-slept, her baby had a beautiful wood crib. I was AP, she was not.

About the only similarity in our parenting styles was the ferocious new love we both had for our children.

Still, the afternoon was pleasant. We delighted in a photo shoot with our perfect little models, who were blissfully unaware that they were 'new best friends'. I held and sang to her tiny daughter while my friend prepared her a bottle. She answered my door while I was nursing my son. We shared a laugh at how my baby wouldn't let me put him down and was carried all day long in a sling.

As the afternoon passed my friend found it hard to concentrate on our conversation. Her daughter was unhappy with sitting on her lap, so she tried placing her in the baby seat, which accompanies them on every visit. More vocal protests from the baby ensued, so she flipped on a switch that started to shake not only the baby seat but the entire floor. I offered to let her try out a sling as her babe was becoming increasingly fretful, but she was unsure and thought not.

Shortly, it became apparent that our time had come to an end. Her baby needed sleep, and my friend was becoming evermore harried trying to juggle and soothe her babe- home for a nap was the only remedy. My own little bundle was sleeping soundly, cradle position, in his beloved sling.

Watching her struggle trying to get out the door with the incredible amount of accoutrements she had come in with was unbearable and I carried what I could. We said our goodbyes, promising to get together again soon.

That day I realized just how simplified my life was because of Attachment Parenting. My baby and I were free to go wherever we wanted, whenever we needed, unbound by constraints of strollers and bottle warmers.

At one point in our afternoon my dear friend had remarked on how she saw me as self-sacrificing, considering how constantly attached I was to my baby. She thought I burdened myself unnecessarily. I felt differently. Seeing her surrounded and weighted by so many baby 'things' like bottles, formula, stroller and baby seat, I hadn't felt that I'd sacrificed a thing. Nor was I burdened. I was free. Just another gift that attachment parenting had given our family.