'Attachment' Snuggles

My husband and I have practiced attachment parenting ever since we became parents! Although there have been many nights (and groggy mornings!) when we've questioned our sanity, I must say that one of my favorite aspects of this lifestyle choice is sibling co-sleeping/family bed.

Our kids are 5 and 2, so it still works out perfectly for our family. The best part of the sleeping arrangements is that the kids are in bed, together, by 7pm. It's during these precious hours of angelic faces and peaceful calmness that my husband and I fall more deeply in love with our little munchkins - they look so content and loving! We have witnessed them in every hilarious combination of strange contortions and intertwined positions... but mostly lots of hugs and snuggles. Needless to say, we have a growing collection of photographs of sleeping children!

It was long before having children that we knew attachment parenting was the right choice for our family - it's completely congruent with our philosophy of health & wellness, and life in general. When I was pregnant with our son, I had read several books and articles about sibling co-sleeping. The prevailing theme (in the type of parenting philosophy books I instinctively gravitate toward) was that siblings who sleep in the same bed share an incredibly deep bond and a profound connection with each other throughout life. What mother doesn't hope for that?! OK, there was a little selfishness in the decision, too... I had also read that co-sleeping siblings, and those who share a family bed, are significantly less likely to quarrel, have power struggles, taunt and tease each other, etc. Again, what mother doesnt' desperately hope for that???!!!

By the way, I had also read from several sources that co-sleeping and the family bed cause NO harm to a growing child's independence or sexual development... in fact, quite the opposite. Typically, children raised in attachment parenting families demonstrate great independence, high self-esteem and confidence in themselves.

So, who knows how they'd be if we didn't share a family bed? Who knows how long this magical stage will last? Not me. I've learned to just appreciate what today gives me, since God knows I can't control what will happen tomorrow! For today, I am thoroughly convinced that the tenets of attachment parenting are perfectly suited for our family. And I'm thrilled with the incredible, adorable connection our kids have to each other. At last glance, our two angels (while they're sleeping ,at least!) are cozied up to each other, sound asleep, surrounded by a dozen books that big sister is proud to read to little brother every night! Absolutley priceless!