This was such an impactful read. Thank you for sharing this. I’ve never looked at co-sleeping this way. My kids (3 and 6 years old) usually climb into bed with my husband and I in the middle of the night. I remember when I used to be upset about it and felt as though they shouldn’t be here and should be in their own beds from what I had read online and in various books, but my husband welcomed them and they would go to him instead of me. I started to soften when I heard someone say “they are only little once.” My husband told me a co-worker said this to him when he shared that our kids will come into bed at night and we weren’t sure how to get them back to their beds. When I heard the phrase “they are only little once” it just made me feel things in a different way. I wasn’t upset about this phrase as I know other parents are when they hear something like this and usually think “well you’re not in it anymore so you have no idea.” The phrase made me think and I just realized that I have been letting the conditioning of our society influence my home and I wasn’t ok with it any longer. They start in their beds and come to ours at some point in the night and I actually look forward to some snuggles and seeing their sweet faces sleeping next to me when I wake up before them.
Sleeping next to my sweet babies is one of life’s sweetest joys. The way my son puts his arm around me or rests his head on my shoulder melts my heart. Seeing their sweet sleeping faces, and being there right when they wake up with a smile - it makes me think that these are the moments I’ll remember and miss for the rest of my life.
I too will take love over productivity all day long! The technocratic establishment continues its empty promises that more technology will yield more leisure and abundance. I see the opposite, and I’m afraid I could back that up statistically. We are working harder than ever, earning relatively less, while the cost of living goes up, all while being encouraged to isolate further from the things that matter: love, human contact, time in nature and a connection to the great flow and mystery of life on earth.
I couldn't agree more. When you study hunter gatherer societies you realize that despite thousands of years of alleged progress, humans have less leisure time than we did before agriculture, industrialization and technology. The benefits have accrued to a select few and there is no sign we are heading towards a more equal distribution in the future. The one thing I am truly grateful for is modern medicine. Before it we would have watched half our children die before reaching maturity. But I believe it would be possible, if we collectively willed it, to live with the benefits of science and technology while still enjoying abundant leisure and time with loved ones. But it's certainly not possible under neoliberal capitalism.
Thanks for reading! I will make sure to link any forthcoming articles or publications on my linktree in my Instagram. From what I have learned about book publishing, it could be a couple years, but I will certainly continue to share findings and content in this newsletter in the meantime. Thanks again for being here.
This was such an impactful read. Thank you for sharing this. I’ve never looked at co-sleeping this way. My kids (3 and 6 years old) usually climb into bed with my husband and I in the middle of the night. I remember when I used to be upset about it and felt as though they shouldn’t be here and should be in their own beds from what I had read online and in various books, but my husband welcomed them and they would go to him instead of me. I started to soften when I heard someone say “they are only little once.” My husband told me a co-worker said this to him when he shared that our kids will come into bed at night and we weren’t sure how to get them back to their beds. When I heard the phrase “they are only little once” it just made me feel things in a different way. I wasn’t upset about this phrase as I know other parents are when they hear something like this and usually think “well you’re not in it anymore so you have no idea.” The phrase made me think and I just realized that I have been letting the conditioning of our society influence my home and I wasn’t ok with it any longer. They start in their beds and come to ours at some point in the night and I actually look forward to some snuggles and seeing their sweet faces sleeping next to me when I wake up before them.
Thank you for sharing Ashley!
Sleeping next to my sweet babies is one of life’s sweetest joys. The way my son puts his arm around me or rests his head on my shoulder melts my heart. Seeing their sweet sleeping faces, and being there right when they wake up with a smile - it makes me think that these are the moments I’ll remember and miss for the rest of my life.
I wholeheartedly agree (even though I do occasionally sneak off to my own bed, but then usually I get lonely and go back, haha!)
I too will take love over productivity all day long! The technocratic establishment continues its empty promises that more technology will yield more leisure and abundance. I see the opposite, and I’m afraid I could back that up statistically. We are working harder than ever, earning relatively less, while the cost of living goes up, all while being encouraged to isolate further from the things that matter: love, human contact, time in nature and a connection to the great flow and mystery of life on earth.
I couldn't agree more. When you study hunter gatherer societies you realize that despite thousands of years of alleged progress, humans have less leisure time than we did before agriculture, industrialization and technology. The benefits have accrued to a select few and there is no sign we are heading towards a more equal distribution in the future. The one thing I am truly grateful for is modern medicine. Before it we would have watched half our children die before reaching maturity. But I believe it would be possible, if we collectively willed it, to live with the benefits of science and technology while still enjoying abundant leisure and time with loved ones. But it's certainly not possible under neoliberal capitalism.
Fantastic article. As a grandmother who has been through this, it rings true with my own experience.
Can’t keep those kids outta the bed 😜
This was refreshing. Can’t wait to read your book and future journal publications!
Thanks for reading! I will make sure to link any forthcoming articles or publications on my linktree in my Instagram. From what I have learned about book publishing, it could be a couple years, but I will certainly continue to share findings and content in this newsletter in the meantime. Thanks again for being here.
ha ha