Conscious parenting?

[Rarrie]

Have just heard about conscious parenting, and am finding it quite interesting, and would like to know more... does anyone do it, how would they describe it? Do they like it? Questions, questions!?!

Thanks!

Never heard of it - what is it?

Is that as opposed to being blotto most of the time?

I've not heard of it either.

LOL Mum2girls - that's what I thought too. I've never heard of it either.

I subscribe to "bleary eyed, making it up as I go along with the help of mumsnet" parenting. Perhaps I should write a book.

Would be interested in knowing more - However I fear it is a concept that will make me feel like I did it all wrong!!

Has GOT to be American (sorry Americans!!)

apologies but it does sound very West coast!!
Conscious as opposed to.. er unconscious???!!

Rarrie..
Is it the same thing as attachment parenting?(of which there is quite a lot of info around)

Just googled it and found this link

"Conscious", huh? If only I could just sleep thru it all, instead...

sounds interesting to me..but would love to hear the Great Cod's opinion!!!

just skimmed through that link. oh blimey. failed again. and not only have I failed, but I will cause my children to fail. therapy needed. open bottle of wine and down contents in one. think I need to be a more un-conscious parent.

I endeavour to remain conscious at all times when babes are awake. I don't always manage it.

But you all beat me to it anyway and I have just read vict17's link. Nearly fell asleep reading it.

I started reading a book on this a while back by a husband and wife team from the states I think

basically I think it is modelled around the buddhist idea of "being in the present" i.e. trying to focus on the here and now rather than the past or future (apols to any Buddhists out there if I got this wrong!). It's about trying not to have too many expectations of your kids but enjoying them for who/what they are, and enjoying the mopment of parenting for what that is too, without expecting too much. All very noble. I found it slightly TOO noble, but did reflect on some of their observations and try to bear them in mind now (e.g. when I am about to lose my mind at DD being up for the 4th time in a row since put to bed an hour ago ). I find it quite calming to try to remember that she is just a child and won't be forever and it'll all be over far too quickly so don't get in a panic but ENJOY. WHich is I think the kind of message conscious parenting is trying to give. Or maybe I'm wrong. But it gave me that anyway so that suits me.....interested to hear anyone else's views...

lovely theory, and one I'm sure we all aspire to..

but maybe we shouldn't be here on MN if truly CONSCIOUS?!!
and indeed probably wouldn't NEED mumsnet if we were true followers?

oh gawd, something else to try to bear in mind whilst responding to continual needs and demands from juniors.
if only I didn't fall asleep as soon as I lie down there might be a chance of reflecting on my hidden shadows and thereby discovering many, many more ways to feel guilty.

I think in order to be TRULY conscious you would need to devote yourself full time to it (and become much more selfless than I could ever be), a bit like the Sears approach to attachment parenting (or Gina Fords CLB in a very different way).

I can't do that. But I am generally someone with a very short fuse and a bit of a control freak and I find it VERY useful to try to just step back every now and then and take this approach.

It's like any of these "parenting theories" I guess - bits and pieces of most of them are always useful to have in your back pocket, ever getting the chance to check what's in that back pocket is another matter entirely!

here's to collapsing with a glass of wine the minute the blighters are asleep...