I have seriously been a mother for too long because not one of these ‘radical parenting’ families on the Discovery Health Channel program (USA) sounds remotely radical to me. Sigh, cos I like a good gasp now and then.
This one hour special explores several different families extreme forms of parenting. From attachment parenting to raising a child gender neutral to raising child without consequences. In the diverse world we live in there are some pretty extreme ways.
And you know, I come across all crunchy granola but I’m not really that crunchy granola. In fact my friend, who is that crunchy has begun to tease me about my blog. She has a point. Lately I have written about slings, Montessori schooling, vegetarianism, co-sleeping, homebirth, breastfeeding, veggie gardens, and just generally chewing the granola loudly and crunchily. Total fraud. Actually, we’re a household who swears (why yes, in front of the children too), watches TV, plays video games (some of us at least, and semi-violent ones even), eats take-away food (yes, also fast food), hospital-births, uses disposable nappies (ok, but we use the biodegradable ones so is that sort of crunchy?) and buys plastic toys.
Just coming clean.
Incidentally the ‘radical parents’ will be guests on The Feminist Breeder’s blog radio show (she was herself one of the featured ‘radical parents’ on the Discovery Health program on account of raising her sons with gender neutrality – yay for feminism) later this month.
blue milk 
Love it! I’m crunchy like refined sugar too!
What does raising a child without consequences mean?
I haven’t seen the show but I think they are talking about discipline without punishment. You know, emphasis on communication rather than reward and punishment? I think. Also, I know one of the families is unschooling, so not sure if there is overlap there.
LOL! I love it when quasi-crunchies (like myself) come clean.
I think the child without consequences thing falls along the lines of Alfie Kohn’s work (Unconditional Parenting is a great book).
So like us, you’re like, totally crunchy unless you’re tired, busy, or it might be more fun not to be?
It’s funny how we are supposed to fit neatly into a box even (perhaps, especially) when we fail to conform to the norm. I like having the freedom to parent exactly the way that feels right to me without having to adhere to the rules of any particular ‘parenting plan’. In fact, I kind of like being a bundle of contradictions – it keeps people guessing.
I guess you miss out a bit on that sense of community that comes from sitting neatly in a category though, don’t you?
I also don’t think of any of these parenting practices as ‘extreme’. Makes me wonder – how conservative are the conservatives? I don’t belong to any type of parenting group (except perhaps feminist? green? active?). But I do TALK to my children.
I remember reading that feminist mothering means raises your kids without prejudice – re gender, race, creed, colour etc. My only thought was ‘What are the other parents teaching their kids?!?” This seems minimal standard to me. I wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise.
And yes, I am a feminist greenie activist, but I do sometimes drink a Coke, put something in the garbage bin, and I don’t earn my own money. Outed! And yes, Kate, it is absolutely easier to walk the talk when you’re not tired, busy and cranky. That’s life. Consistency is very difficult.