I’ve described myself in the past as being about equal parts hippy dippy flower child and hard boiled cynic, and that really fits in most aspects of my life. I think I’d describe my taste as equal parts modern designer and Handmade antique. I can’t fully commit to the handmade aesthetic, and I can’t fully commit to the sterile modern design either. Luckily my wishy-washy-ness has been really helpful with how my particular journey into motherhood has transpired.
Oh I had goals. I had the loftiest of goals. Attachment parenting, cosleeping, cloth diapering, no plasticing, organic everything goals. And even though every single person around me thought I was out of my mind, including occasionally Bear, I stuck to my guns. California has a reputation as being full of the organic lovers, but it varies greatly by the region, and once you get south of LA it’s all a very conservative, frequently wealthy, “Ah, just buy it, it’s easier.” kind of mentality.
But I wouldn’t listen to the skepticism. I had my plans, including preparation for an unmedicated birth, and nothing was going to dissuade me from them.
Until Atti was actually born.
There went my unmedicated birth – it was far more important that we both make it out alive. There went my beautiful dreams of breastfeeding – no matter how many hours a day I attached myself to the pump my milk supply dried up before he even made it home. There went my ideas of attachment parenting – it’s a little hard to wear a baby and an oxygen tank. No cloth diapers – I spend hours every day doing physical therapy, I have to limit as many household chores as possible.
The one that really hurt my heart was giving up on the No Plastics rule. He still has the fancy bottles, so I suppose that’s what is most important, but I’ve scoured the internet and I’ve never found a toy made of wood or cloth that lights up and plays music when you hit it. And that’s what he needs to motivate him to do physical therapy.
I still try though. We coslept until he was too big to fit in the bed, I try to wear him as often as possible (he’s sitting on my lap as I type) and I make all his baby food from organic fruits and vegetables.
Really, I’ve been pretty surprised to discover just how ridiculously easy his baby food has been. It takes me maybe one afternoon every five months, and costs maybe $25. WAY cheaper than buying in a jar, and I know there’s no preservatives, no sugar, no salt, and all the vitamins haven’t been processed out.
And yet this was the parenting choice that people really went nuts about. This was what convinced people I was a total extremist. I don’t know exactly what people think is so complicated about making baby food, but just in case you’ve toyed around with the idea let me explain.
1. Chop food into chunks and either boil or steam. If it needs to be cooked at all. Most fruit doesn’t need it, avocados don’t need it.
2. Run the prepared food through a blender or food processor to make a nice puree. If it’s a little thick, thin it down with some of the cooking water.
3. Pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze.
Done.
Early this week I sat down with a mess of apples, nectarines, squash, and carrots, and in about three hours from start to finish I have enough baby food to last him for months.
Pouring into the ice cube trays creates perfect 1oz serving sizes, so I just grab a couple of veggi cubes and defrost. Then I don’t have to worry about throwing out a ton of food if he isn’t cooperative. I also supplement in with fresh mashed bananas, fresh mashed avocado, a bunch of cereals, and yogurt.
The reason I wanted to adhere to all those parenting philosophies was because I was convinced they were better for a child. And I still am, but they weren’t better for *my* child. Or I should say, *this* child. If I get to have another one I’ll try all over again. But at least I can rest easy that I gave this baby what he needed, and that was the whole point.