2 Types Of Parents: Which One Are You?
By Zita Fekete. Posted on .
![2 Types Of Parents: Which One Are You? [EXPERT]](http://images.tangomag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-full/image_blog/mommy.jpg "2 Types Of Parents: Which One Are You? [EXPERT]")
After the Time Magazine cover story, "Are You Mom Enough?," the age-old parenting debate gained new momentum. The topic of child rearing awakens powerful feelings and memories, and how we raise our kids touches ground within our collective conscience. Sex After Giving Birth: Women Like It More Than You Think!
On his website, Amderson Cooper poses the question, "Are you an unconventional parent?" Initially, the question confused me. What is unconventional? Is it the millions-of-years-old, affectionate, closeness-seeking child rearing? Or is it the less-than-hundred-years-old stimuli-response based non-affectionate style? And, more importantly, whose advice should we follow? To choose between these two methods, we must understand their differences and their theoretical backgrounds.
More from YourTango: Three Essentials To Back Off Manipulators
When researchers made cross-cultural comparisons with the Ainsworth "Strange Situation Test," which was the first measurement of the attachment type, they were not able to conduct the test with Bushman mothers and babies because the mothers were not willing to leave their babies alone for three minutes. It's reasonable to believe that a baby left alone in the middle of the Savannah would face certain death.
Although the observation happened in our time period, the Bushman lifestyle is quite close to our ancestors' lives. As our genetic changes are delayed compared to the environmental changes, our present genetic makeup is selected to function best in that hunter-gatherer environment. Everything that would have been bothersome then is stressful now. If a baby is left alone means certain death, we can understand why babies seek constant contact with their caregiver.
More from YourTango: “Rape Culture and Sl*t-Shaming” – How Can We Stop?
Sensitive mothers often report the reciprocal feeling; they experience the separation anxiety if they have to leave the child even in a secure place. Tribal culture and rural environments tend to follow the ancient pattern with lots of body contact and long lasting easy accessibility between mother and child. Nowadays, due to the woman's work commitment, babies have lost their possibility to stay within reach of mom. Why Having A Second Baby Is A 'Big Effing Deal' To Me
More love advice from YourTango:
