For months now I’ve been writing a post in my head about why we eventually choose to co-sleep. I wanted to write about why I struggled with that decision, why I eventually decided it was the best thing for our family, and about the relief, rest and sanity that it’s brought to me. I wanted to write about why I now would never consider doing anything else with my future children and why I would encourage others to co-sleep as well. Maybe someday I’ll still write that post… but today I want to share with you another post, a post that made me cry, a post that I connected with so much I could have written it.
Connected Mom writes this beautiful post about Four Lies Sleep Trainers Tell You (And One Truth They Won’t!)
If you’ve ever struggled with a baby who just won’t sleep the way “they” tell you that your baby “should”, well, I encourage you to read this post.
I want to close by sharing a poem that Connect Mom shared at the end of her post. I thought this was absolutely beautiful, and inspiring, and SO encouraging! This is for all you mama’s out there who, like me, continue to struggle through sleep deprivation.
Selflessness
Everything which endures can
only do so because Eternal
Consciousness gives it a sentience.
A mother who gives herself
completely to her infant meets
herself in the dark and finds
fulfillment.
In the hours between midnight
and dawn, she crosses the
threshold of self-concern and
discovers a Self that has no limits.
A wise mother meets this
Presence with humility and steps
through time into selflessness.
Infants know when their mothers
have done this, and they
become peaceful.
Who, then, is the doer? Is it the
infant who brings its mother
through the veil of self-concern
into limitlessness? Is it the
mother, who chooses to hold
sacred her infant’s needs and
surrender herself? Or is it the
One, which weaves them both
through a spiraling path
toward wholeness?
You can sit and meditate while
your baby cries himself to sleep.
Or you can go to him and share
his tears, and find your Self.
By Vimala McClure, from The Tao of Motherhood
Rejoicing in the journey -
Bethany Stedman
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Beth Stedman. wife. mommy. daughter. friend. homemaker. sinner. believer. writer. cook. dreamer. artist. yogi. photographer. 







thanks for the link to the connected mom post. She is gracious and encouraging. One thing I’ve always loved about Weisbluth (our sleep bible) is that sleep training means training ME to see when my kids need to sleep. And I love that he doesn’t prescribe “how” to do it, the principles are true for crying it out, going in and comforting, co-sleeping or anywhere in between. You’re doing a great job finding your own rhythm with thad (and though you’ll have to do it all over again with the new baby) it’ll be good too. I enjoyed living life together for a season and figuring it out together.
I love the belly pic you posted and big brother is getting BIG…
Joanna, that’s true and it was something I appreciated about that book as well. I feel like I’m just starting to figure Thad out and know what he needs when it comes to sleep – I’m so not looking forward to starting all over with a new baby. Ugh! Well, if there’s one thing i’ve learned from the struggles we’ve had with thad’s sleep it’s that nothing ever stays the same. So no matter how bad it is with the new baby I’m glad I can have some perspective now and know that it is just a season and won’t last forever and yes I can and will survive it
We really miss you and mark lots and. Iss doing life with you! Praying for you all as you face your upcoming decision about the future. Can’t wait to see the places god takes you to! Love you!
Absolutely – babies don’t need training, just love and attention. In the same way, preschoolers don’t need worksheets, just fun opportunities to learn in their own way. I’m so glad more parents are beginning to see things this way.
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