Deeper Love

My wife and I have been hopeful that practicing the principles of Attachment Parenting -- baby wearing with a sling, co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, and the like -- we might not see a real case of the "terrible" twos. And that might be the case. On the other hand, we've begun to see glimmers of willfulness, and occasionally aggression, that suggest the individuation, and detachment, of the third year is inevitable. A few things have been thrown on the floor, or across the room, the volume level has risen on a few of Annalee's negative outbursts, and our beloved princess has also struck out at her mommy once or twice. Our intention, as of today, is not to aggressively punish aggression, to use a firm, low voice, and to talk through every difficulty we can -- without banishment or any other kind of real punishment. We're not totally naive; we know that there will be hard moments, if not hard days, but I at least think that they will give us a deeper chance to love.