Parent-led, baby-led, or Spirit-led.

First, allow me to say that my son, Ari, is laying beside of me on the couch sleeping soundly.  Secondly, I don't know how it actually happened.  Ha!  This seems to be the resounding theme over the past couple of weeks for Jenny and me.  One day we'll try something to make feeding, sleeping, or really anything go smoother, and it will work.  The next day, we wisely and carefully attempt the same steps as the day before only to be met with failure.  Failure is a bit strong, but you get the point.  As I sit here on the couch and look over at my peacefully sleeping 2 1/2 week-old child, I'm driven to "Google" such phrases as, "how to regulate a newborn's sleeping schedule," or, "can a newborn be put on a schedule."  Then I'm bombarded.

I read everything from authors adamantly (I just had to Google the actual spelling of this word) claiming that parent-led schedules are best for the baby because it develops structure in the newborn's life.  Mainly, I'm drawn to the part of the article that talks about parents and newborns sleeping through the night within the first couple of weeks.  Yes, please!  Moving on...

Next, I come to an article stating that baby-led schedules work best because the newborn knows when it is hungry and will communicate, via crying, that he/she is ready to feed/sleep/wake/poop.  Apparently, there are "different" cries for all of these different activities.  Should I know the difference?  Nah.   I, then, am led to ask, "Does our baby boy now own a schedule that we've created for ourselves over the past 4 years?"  Many of you may be laughing at me at this point, but bear with me.

So, now it is just me, post-article reading, left to decide which road I would like to venture down to successfully or unsuccessfully do what is right for my son.  Whoa!  It's a bit overwhelming.  Then, I think back on the past 9 months of Jenny's pregnancy and am reminded who granted grace, direction, clarity, understanding, blessings, and growth.  Why would He not want to grant the same for us in the new season?  How have I so easily abandoned His direction and clarity for something I've Googled?  Now, hear me out, please.  I am in no way saying that others' advice, wisdom, or experience is not helpful.  We've been blessed, and continue to be blessed, by friends and family sharing their experiences or wisdom with us, and we will continue to read books for evidence-based theories on tips of parenting; however, we will first plead for supernatural direction in how to care for Ari to allow him to develop the way he needs to.

This post is no more than my process to arrive at a point where I should have started.  I've not decided on whether we'll be parent-led or baby-led.  I'll strive to allow our family to be Spirit-led.  Thanks for reading the ramblings.

Colby