“That little Susie is certainly attached to her mama!”
“Whew! Timmie certainly is a clingy baby!”
Though I have heard statements like those said in a negative way, such as when a child is crying about being left in the church nursery or a Sunday School class; if someone said them to me today, I would smile and feel confirmed that I was doing exactly what I should do as a mama. If I was feeling particularly perky, I would tell the person making the comment, “Thank you.”
God created children to rest in their mamas’ love and care. He created mamas to love and care for their own children.
When I was a brand new mama with my very first baby, I had a friend who pressured me to have freedom from my little guy. She questioned my nursing and wanted me to give him a bottle — not for his sake, but so that I would have freedom.
One of My Favorite Outfits for My Little Boy
She was relentless in her pursuit of having me mother the way she thought I should.
My inclinations were otherwise. What I wanted to do was to sit in the rocking chair nursing my baby. In the end, he spent lots of time in his mama’s arms and he never would take a bottle. That’s where he wanted to be and that’s where I wanted to be. Why fight it? God made us that way.
I will ever be grateful that God closed my ears to her unyielding pressure.
A young mother told me recently that her La Leche League group was discussing what you can do while you are nursing. She wisely said that nursing is doing something — something very important.
I am proud of you for spending so much time with your children. Don’t let anyone make you think that is weird or convince you that your children need separation. What they really need is attachment. Early attachment to mama will bless them all their lives.
The connection between a mother and her child is so basic, so universal, so natural, that God uses it to illustrate His own love:
“Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
Isaiah 49:15
I had a sister-in-law who always thought that I needed time away from my then just girls. I never could understand that. My other sister-in-law (both are now ex sister-in-laws) was absolutely convinced that our oldest daughter would have a very hard time adjusting to Kindergarten (in a Lutheran school) because I stayed home with my kids. She called me an hour after school started to see how it went. Imagine her shock when I told her that we went in, met her teacher who showed her where to put her jacket and bag, she took a look around the room, turned to me and said, “You can go now Mom.” !!! 🙂