I was challenged by a friend. Challenged to reaffirm the way I discipline. My friend shared this verse and asked how I could be against spanking…

Do I believe in spanking? No. Does this mean I hate my child? Absolutely not.

I believe the point of this verse is that discipline is important. Just because I don’t believe in spanking doesn’t mean I’m against discipline. Just because I don’t spank doesn’t mean I hate my child. The verse doesn’t say “Thou shall spank.” It says “Whoever spares the rod hates their children.” And I believe their are many different “rods” of discipline. For me that rod is gentle discipline. It’s what feels right to me as a parent and I believe that it certainly has a Biblical basis.

When Jesus was teaching His disciples lessons, He didn’t beat them over the head and make them believe. He gently, and sometimes sternly, but always lovingly taught His disciples right from wrong. And His disciples had so much respect for Him that they longed to do right by Him. Did they always do right? No. They messed up and when they did, they had to face the consequences. To me, that’s a great example of gentle discipline. Gentle discipline has nothing to do with this ineffective and problematic style of parenting. Gentle discipline is strong and effective.

I want Kolt to trust me. I want him to be okay with coming to me when he does something wrong. I want him to know that I will be his ally in all situations. I want him to do right because he wants to do right. Not because he is scared or fearful of me or the consequences of doing wrong. Just like most things when it comes to parenting, what works for one child may not work for the other. There are many ways to practice gentle discipline and that includes tuning and adjusting discipline in light of your child’s learning style, the purpose behind them, and any potential costs.

And quite possibly the most important aspect is positive reinforcement. Look for times when your child chooses right. Look for times when your child practices what you’ve taught. And praise them. Cheer them on when the make the right choice!

I wanted to wait to write anything until I had a chance to read the article in the magazine. I find it quite interesting that the cover is getting much more attention then the actually article. You see, the cover did exactly what Time wanted. Shock and Awe. It sold magazines. The articles is not just about extended breastfeeding. It’s about attachment parenting. Why not a picture of a family bed-sharing? Why not a picture of a father wearing his child? Because it wouldn’t have gotten the same reaction. Time knows what they need to do to sell magazines. And they did exactly that.

Do I think the cover is inappropriate? No. Do I think it’s sexual? No. Do I think people are over-reacting? Yes. Do I think it’s a shame that a picture of extended breastfeeding should cause such an uproar? ABSOLUTELY!

What the heck is wrong with people? In a country where we are supposed to be “open” and “accepting” of those who are different we can’t even have something so completely natural grace our newsstands without causing an uproar. I chalk it up to people be largely uneducated. They haven’t been exposed to extended breastfeeding and frankly it makes people uncomfortable.  And it shouldn’t. There are a multitude of benefits to nursing past infancy. Not only that but it is completely natural. Scientific research by Katherine A. Dettwyler, PhD shows that 2.5 to 7.0 years of nursing is what our children have been designed to expect (Dettwyler, 1995).

Many people are just as outraged about the bold red letters that are stamped across the cover. But I want to give you a chance to look at it from a different perspective. Maybe we should be asking the question, Are you Mom Enough? Are you mom enough to stand up for how you parent? Are you mom enough to be proud of your parenting choices? Are you mom enough to keep parenting the way you feel is right despite controversy? Because, for me, being a mom means trusting my instincts, finding what works for me, and believing in it whole heartily, despite what others might say or suggest. I really can’t stand it when mothers moan and complain about being “oppressed” for their parenting choices. You made the choice to parent that way for a reason… so, stand behind your choice! Don’t try to blame others for making you feel guilty or less of a mother.

So, I want to say thanks to Jamie Lynne Grumet. Thank you for being mom enough to breastfed your son on the cover to Time. Thank you for being mom enough to expose and educate people about extended breastfeeding.  Thank you for being mom enough to stand behind the parenting choices you so strongly believe in.

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and I’m linking up with Riding the Roller Coaster and Household Diva 6.

Most days I really do feel like being a Military Spouse is the toughest job in the military. And most of the time our hard work goes unrecognized. Nothing means more to me whenever someone takes the time to not only thank my husband, but me for standing behind him in his service to our country. So, I want to take a second to thank all of you wonderful Military Spouses. Thank you for being both mom and dad. Thank you for sleeping alone.  Thank you for taking care of all the household chores. Thank you for making a home wherever you’re sent. Thank you for your unwavering support of you loved one. Thank you for all you hard work that allows our service members to focus on the mission and return home safe.

Now, a little bit about me. My name is Marah. Today is actually also my birthday and I’m a quarter of a century old. I’m a stay at home mom to two adorable kiddos. Kolt turned two in December. And Emmersyn was just born in February. I’m obsessed with photography, sewing, breastfeeding.

I’ve been married to the Marine Corps, I mean my husband, Scott, for almost 4 years. I was really quite clueless about the military life before marriage. But the military has been generous enough to give me quite the welcome. A move to California, 2 pink lines, a cross country PCS to North Carolina, becoming a family of 3, buying our first home, a combat deployment, 2 pink lines again, a broken marriage, the birth of baby girl, reconciliation, and on the brink of another move to Maryland. Can you say whirlwind?

It’s been quite the ride. I’d love for you to stick around and follow me on my journey through life in God’s grace.

Kolt was just a month old. And I walked into the meeting room, filled with unfamiliar faces. I scanned the room and and was taken back by what I saw, taken back by a beautiful sight. Sitting on the floor was a beautiful young woman with a gorgeous pregnant belly. Wrapped around her belly was an adorable little toddler, nursing. It looked perfect. And I didn’t know it then but looking back I know that this woman, who I learned at the meeting was a La Leche League leader, became my inspiration. She opened my mind to nursing a toddler, nursing through pregnancy and even tandem nursing.

I am forever grateful for that woman.

This post was written as part of the weekly Breastfeeding Blog Hop, hosted by Slacker Mom, The Gnome’s Mom, and ME! Want to join in? Read the rules here and link up below!

However, last night I came across this quote and it reminded me that I should really take the criticism as a compliment, because…

I’d rather be told to relax than to pay attention, I’d rather be told I care too much than too little, I’d rather be told I research too much than not know enough, I’d rather be told I hold my baby too often than too little, I’d rather be told I spend too much time with my baby than not enough, I’d rather find my own way and my own balance than use someone else’s. My shoes might not fit you but that’s okay because I’m the only one doing the walking in them.

There is lots of information out there. TONS! I remember when I first started researching cloth diapers. I found it very overwhelming trying to sort through all the information. I read lots of opinions. Lots of different recommendations. And I could sit here and tell you my favorite diaper, what diaper accessories I can’t live without and what wash routine works best for me. But the truth is, what works for me might now work for you. My favorite diapers might now fit your kiddos they way they fit my kiddos. My wash routine may work well for VERY hard water but leave your diapers washing in soft water smelling horrible.

So, this is my advice…Jump in with two feet and find what works for you. I think once you get started you will find it a lot less intimidating than you expected!

Cloth diapering is largely about trial and error. You have to find your favorite diaper. You have to find what works best for you. And in my opinion, the best way to do this is to try out a cloth diaper trial. There are lots of different cloth diaper trials out there, in lots of different price ranges. Here are a few of my favorites. I like these because the offer a wide variety of diapers.

Jullian’s Drawers has a great trial program. It cost 160.99 to try everything for 21 days (the 21 days starts when you receive the package, not with your order date!). You get to try everything.  Wash them, use them, fall in love with cloth diapering! After 21 days you mail, keep the diapers you want and mail the other diapers back to us after using them for 21 days. You will then receive a refund, adjusted accordingly to the number of diapers kept and returned. And… receive Free Shipping on your next order (to orders within the US). This is actually the trial program I used when I first started cloth diapering. It has changed a little since then, but I still think it’s a great trial!

Modern Cloth also has a fabulous cloth diaper trial program. It’s a little more pricey, but well worth it in my opinion. I love that you can indicate what sizes you want, as well as your color/pattern preference for each item. This allows you to somewhat customize your trial. They also offer this great trial which allows you to COMPLETELY customize your trial. This trial is also 21 days long. The trial fee will be based on the value of the items you choose to return, calculated at 10% of their retail value. Keep any or all of the diapers you fall in love with and simply return the rest to them. I have personally worked with Modern Cloth in reviews and giveaway and bought from them. I love this company, they are great to work with and have great customer service.

Diaper Daisy‘s cloth diaper trial program is one of the cheaper ones I come across. Yet, don’t let this fool you. This cloth diaper trial package still includes and assortment modern cloth diapers in your baby’s size and in fun colors. You will have the opportunity to rent fitted diapers, pocket diapers, all-in-one diapers, one-size diapers, diaper covers and inserts. The fee for renting this package, for 2 2 weeks is $19.95, and the refundable product deposit is $120.00.

Can’t afford a trail? There are other ways to get started cloth diapering. How about for $50? How about for FREE? Have more questions about cloth diapering? Don’t hesitate to contact me, I’d love to help you out!

Have you heard of Bee All Natural products? This is what originally drew me to Bee All Natural products…

Your baby’s skin is pure and natural. The skincare you choose for your little one should be the same!

So true! Bee All Natural is different than other infant products on the market. It is 100% certified organic and contains natural ingredients that are easy to pronounce and can probably found in your own kitchen! Bee All Natural was founded in 2009 when a Michigan mother couldn’t find the quality skincare products she was searching for. She was tired of buying “natural” products that were petroleum based and filled with perfumes. So, she set-out to develop her own skincare that would be safe for every member of her family.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to review their baby powder. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends against the use of powder. Powder can cause breathing problems and serious lung damage when inhaled, this is most worrisome with talc-based powders, which have small, easily inhaled particles. In fact, there’s no evidence that normal baby powder helps to prevent or treat diaper rash. However, Bee All Natural’s baby powder is different! Bee All Natural’s baby powder delivers soothing relief to your baby’s irritated bottom. Talc free, Bee All Natural’s Baby Powder’s ingredients include Organic Arrowroot Powder and highly absorbent Kaolin Clay.

I can rest assured that Bee All Natural produces products that nourish and heal my baby’s delicate skin. I really love this product! This is the first time that I have every used baby powder, to be completely honest. But this baby powder is approved for cloth diapers! How great is that? I particularly like to use this when Em or Kolt are in a diaper that doesn’t wick away the moisture. I just shake the powder into my hand, away from kids, not directly, and then put on on their bum! You can even a mix the powder with a little bit of water, to make a paste, and rub onto the rash. I have been using this baby powder for almost a month now and I highly recommend it. Anytime I see a little redness or chaffing appear, I immediately put this on and by the next diaper change is see relief. Kolt sometimes complains about other diaper salves (even natural and organic ones) stinging when I put them on a rash. He hasn’t complained once when using Bee All Natural’s baby powder!

For $10 off of a $30 purchase, use the coupon code ?FACEBOOK? when purchasing from Bee All Natural. All of their products are USDA certified organic , hand-made by a Michigan Mom, and available for wholesale, retail, and private labeling.

Bee All Natural has generously given one of my fabulous readers the chance to win their very own bottle of Bee All Natural baby powder! Please use the following Rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Myth 1: “I lost my supply!”

Somewhere, people got the idea that your breasts have to feel engorged or there’s no milk, and that they need time to fill before you can feed again. Thank goodness this one isn’t true, because feeling really full is very uncomfortable! Fortunately, you only feel engorged when your milk first comes in because you body is overproducing initially and then will begin to level off to a comfortable amount once it sees how much your baby needs. If you wait until your breasts feel full, you’ve waited too long and they’re over-full and will signal to your body to make less milk, therefore damaging your breast milk supply — and resulting in a really hungry baby. After breastfeeding is established and your supply is as well (this is done by nursing ON DEMAND), the only time you’re likely to ever feel full is if you’ve missed a feeding.

Myth 2: “My baby was allergic to my milk.”

Human milk is the most natural and physiologic substance that baby can ingest. If a baby shows sensitivities related to feeding, it is usually a foreign protein that is in the mother’s milk, and not the milk itself. While it may present itself like an allergy to your milk, it’s actually an allergy to a protein you are passing through your milk (almost always milk and/or soy) and you do not have to wean your baby — you just have to take a break from eating or drinking things containing milk or soy for a bit. It’s certainly not a reason to wean — it just takes the tiniest bit of effort from the mother. (The chances of a baby having the only true allergy to human breast milk or lactose in any form, called galactosemia, affects only 47 babies in the US per year. It’s safe to say that this condition is insanely rare.)

This post was written as part of the weekly Breastfeeding Blog Hop, hosted by Slacker Mom, The Gnome’s Mom, and ME! Want to join in? Read the rules here and link up below!

The main thing I’ve learned this week is that the way I think determines whether my anxiety persists or declines.

One of the huge problems I have with my anxiety is that I tend to overestimate both the likelihood and the intensity of threat and danger. And that is a completely normal aspect of anxiety. With anxiety, ordinary experiences are interpreted as threatening through overestimating, exaggerating, or being  unrealistic. This is a core fear that underlies anxiety. I tend to automatically think dangerously, to catastrophize, exaggerating the probability and severity of bad outcomes of common, everyday situation. I can’t wait to begin working on strategies to help me detect and override my exaggerated, automatic thoughts of threat and danger.

When I’m feeling anxious it’s extremely hard for me to feel like I can handle the situation effectively. I see myself as weak, vulnerable, and unable to cope. Because I haven’t dealt with my anxiety in a healthy manner, I’ve developed a fear of the anxiety itself.  And that only compounds my anxiety. It’s really a vicious cycle. It distorts our thinking process so that we become narrowly focused on threat, danger, and helplessness. This kind of exclusive thinking only prolongs my anxiety. Learning all of these explanations and concepts are key to working through my anxiety.