I'm pretty rigid in my parenting. Rigid, but flexible at the same time, if that's possible. We keep a schedule, have certain no-giving-in rules (No standing on the furniture!), and basically follow a Babywise philosophy. That said, flexibility and knowing what works for a particular child & circumstance are key ingredients for me in parenting. Even though we are pretty rigid on some things, we are more lax on others... i.e. still using a pacifer at naps and in the morning in bed. NOTE: I'm so ready to be done with this little addiction. After our camping trip at the end of the month where I know we're going to want her to have it for our (and the other campers') sake, we will begin The Final Weaning Process off the paci. Also, because it has been so record-breaking hot here, and Chiquita gets the morning sun beating on her window, we've been bringing her a sippy of water in the morning because she's been waking up early, upset & thirsty. Usually she'll drink a little, take her paci that we bring her in the morning (to buy me a little more time for getting ready, Quiet Time, etc.) and go back to sleep. We're hoping this morning drink doesn't become another addiction...
I just wanted to share that it's a good idea to have some flexibility when the norm isn't working for whatever reason. Here's my best example: when Chiquita had her fussy moments as a baby, she always calmed down with some light, jazzy piano music. Her favorite was Norah Jones. I even bought another one of her CDs back then so we could have some variety.
Now that she's older, she's usually a great napper. But occasionally, be it due to teething or a catnap in the car earlier in the day, or whatever, sometimes she really fights going to sleep- I'm talking about hysterics. These occasions are now fewer and far between. But it's nice knowing that if I get desperate, I can turn to our trusted baby whisperer, Norah. I have an iPod dock in Chiquita's room for times like these, among others. I slip the iPod in there, let her cry it out while Norah croons, and usually she's conked out before I know it. I almost had to bust out Norah today... but alas, my good little girl finally calmed herself down and dozed off. So who knows, maybe she's outgrowing this phase. But if not, I'm ready, iPod in hand.
**UPDATE: Chiquita woke up after about an hour. I gave her a little water (she was sweaty from napping in the heat), gave her back her paci & blankie, eventually put Norah on and... nothing worked. Don't you just love the irony here? Classic parenting. Just when you think you've got something down, a secret weapon in your pocket say, it fails you miserably. So much for today's to-do list.
Do you have any parenting hacks for flexibility or Secret Parenting Weapons to share?