The other night I was watching the news (which really is a bad habit of mine) and they previewed a segment about parenting. Being a parent, I went against my better judgment and stuck around to watch.
“Studies show that snuggling with your baby makes it more loving.”
It went on to say:
“Research also says that children who grow up in households that aren’t as loving become emotionally distant adults.”
I’ve been a mom for 17 months. While I am certainly not the most knowledgeable parent ever, I’m pretty sure that I’ve gained some insight to how babies work. After all, I’ve conquered every breastfeeding woe imaginable, I can use ASL to sign a ton and a half “words around the house”, and I got The Monkey to walk by bribing him with a Ginormous Elmo. I’d like to think that the last year and a half has left me somewhat versed in childrearing.
I do not need a study to tell me to cuddle my son. And it concerns me to think that there are people who do a need a study to tell them that, although I can certainly think of people who probably didn’t think that Love + Affection = Well adjusted, emotionally stable children.
I’m really not a huge fan of “scientific studies” to begin with. For instance, when the AAP came out with it’s findings that promoted pacifier use among st other things, I quickly looked to see who was sponsoring the study. I wasn’t surprised to see the likes of Nestle on that list, and it put the whole study in a new light for me.
I don’t even know where I was going with this. I really do need to stop watching the news though, because it drives me seriously batty. Well anyways, to the parents out there, if you didn’t already know, love your kids, apparently it’s good for them.