Nurturing your Parent-Child Relationship

There's a new study out of England today that suggests that women who breastfeed have more positive parenting practices and have a warmer relationship with their children. But if you read the study further, you'll see that apparently it only applies to single, low income mothers!

Now let's think abvout that.   First, I'm insulted.  I certainly don't think positive parenting behaviors are standard.  Do you?  The way I parent may not be the way my friend parents, but I would say that we both have positive parenting techniques.  Who's to judge what behaviors constitute positive parenting?  Because really, there are so many ways to measure that.  For some, it's being a disciplinarian.  For others it's the way they play and interact with their children. 

And what about mothers who don't have a choice; maybe they're ill and can't breastfeed or maybe, and very possibly, they need to return to work because of financial reasons.  In that scenario, breastfeeding is harder to maintain.  But does that mean they are not parenting well?  I would venture to say that they are being great role models actually; strong women who don't give up, they just do what's necessary to provide for their children.  That's positive parenting if you ask me.

And in all these cases, a warm relationship between a child and its mother is truly dependent on the interaction between the two.  Whether you breastfeed or formula-feed doesn't come into it.