I'm sure my parents can give PLENTY of examples throughout my childhood of just how different I was, but the first major societal conception I challenged (intentionally) was to have a child, unwed and at home at the tender age of 22.
There were MANY around me concerned about my choice to have a midwife and give birth at home. I never really understood why it mattered to anyone else what I did. I vividly remember my aunt telling me how bad it would hurt having an unmediated birth, let alone at home; I believe her exact words were "Do you know what it feels like to have a baby?!". I remember thinking "Why should your birth experience influence my decision or even be the same as mine?" (and let me say I labored at my baby shower and gave birth in 12 minutes and all in good spirits, so NO it was not the same)
.... and thus it began...
Ever since we have started making decisions for our family, there have been people challenging our beliefs, our choices. The choice to not circumcise our son(s), the choice to forgo vaccinations, the choice to breast feed, our spiritual beliefs, eating habits, our beliefs in education...even the decision to have a 3rd child, as if that was anyone's business other than ours....
The one thing I could never understand was even though its not the choice YOU would make, why shouldn't it be MINE? I put a LOT of research, education and dedication into my decisions. The dedication of hours and hours of reading, talking and asking questions to find out more. I want to know IF this is a good decision and WHY...to know more. There is a whole thought process involved. Much more thought than just believing whatever is told to me. I go in search of the decision I feel is best....and why is that not respectable? I consult licensed experts just as much as I consult industry experts and experienced experts.
Look at the alternative, vaccinations; How many hours of research does someone put into vaccinating their child; did they think about pros and cons? Did they do it because everyone else does it and their pediatrician said they "needed to", did they scared them and told them "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your baby would you???"....that's a fear tactic, that's not education nor what is for the greater GOOD!
Look at the alternative, vaccinations; How many hours of research does someone put into vaccinating their child; did they think about pros and cons? Did they do it because everyone else does it and their pediatrician said they "needed to", did they scared them and told them "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your baby would you???"....that's a fear tactic, that's not education nor what is for the greater GOOD!
It takes a lot of conviction to go against the norm in this society, and "swimming against the current" is not celebrated, or even tolerated. Instead it is demeaned, disrespected, frowned upon, insulted. And nobody asks why you made these decisions. They just assume your decisions are wrong. Even if there are licensed professionals, Millions of them, holding the same belief?! You're told "You need to find someone else..." when what they mean is "You need to find someone who believes like me."
Now, our decisions may not be what is best for other families...I firmly believe that what works for me may not work for you. When I tell others about my birth stories I always let them know choosing a midwife is a personal conviction, and if its not something they are comfortable with then it probably won't work for them.
I've mostly learned that it is all driven out of fear...because others are afraid "for you", or more likely of you...
These choices have never been more questioned than with Millie. But what others can't seem to understand is that Millie is not defined be WHAT she has or her condition, she is defined by WHO she is. She is not "sick" but yes, she is different, and that is hard for those in the mainstream medical industry to understand. She has definitely taught me to define myself, not to let others' beliefs define me.
Think about this from Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw:
“Two percent of the people think; three percent of the people think they think; and ninety-five percent of the people would rather die than think.”
I challenge you to break from the pack and define yourself...THINK!
Links on challenging vaccinations:
"It turns out that younger doctors are becoming more skeptical that vaccines work, according to a presentation this week at the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s annual meeting. The two researchers, Johns Hopkins’ Michelle Mergler and Emory University’s Saad B. Omer, found that younger health care providers — more recent medical school graduates — are “more likely to believe immunizations do more harm than good.” The Washington Post
When Parents Question Vaccination -Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, respected as one of the country’s most knowledgeable and outspoken physicians regarding the impact of vaccines on health.
VAERS- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System- a joint effort by the FDA and CDC to report ill effects from receiving vaccinations.
Two facts. Over the past 50 years, the number of cases of chronic illness among children in the West has risen sharply. During that same period, the vaccinations of babies and young children against infectious diseases have expanded enormously. Are these two developments related? A growing number of scientists think they are. One mother decided to investigate. - OdeWire.com
When Parents Question Vaccination -Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, respected as one of the country’s most knowledgeable and outspoken physicians regarding the impact of vaccines on health.
VAERS- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System- a joint effort by the FDA and CDC to report ill effects from receiving vaccinations.
Two facts. Over the past 50 years, the number of cases of chronic illness among children in the West has risen sharply. During that same period, the vaccinations of babies and young children against infectious diseases have expanded enormously. Are these two developments related? A growing number of scientists think they are. One mother decided to investigate. - OdeWire.com
A great quote from the above article- "Overuse of vaccines to suppress all acute, externalizing inflammations early in life can set up the immune system to respond to future stresses and infections by developing chronic, internalizing disease later in life.” -Philip Incao, MD
"For most children, the risk of a serious vaccine reaction may be 100 times greater than the actual risk of hepatitis B" - Statement by Dr. Jane Orient, a practicing internist and Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians & Surgeons as documented in a hearing before the U.S House of Representatives regarding Government Reform, specifically the publicly mandated Hepatitis B vaccine.
UPDATE: My mother went to lunch with a friend and guess what? They were having a bake sale to benefit epilepsy!! So she texted me to come one down since we were at a ballgame in the neighborhood and within walking distance...So, I got to talking with the mother who was hosting the sale and LONG story short her son did not start having seizures until after a round of typical and "age appropriate" vaccinations....needless to say the mother is not continuing with ANY vaccines and is strongly against it as standard medical practice.... serendipitous that I was close and it was this particular mother huh? I believe it was Divine Intervention ;) We also were discussing Millie's current diet and I learned a LOT from her so stay tuned to Mill's blog to see what happens with that!! Also, the OM (other mother) and I will be visiting again soon to discuss raising awareness for the harm vaccines cause, more on that much later!!
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