I have some post ideas percolating in my mind. But I’ve also been busy and haven’t had a ton of time to write. Last year at this time, I did a delurking and open thread post and encouraged people who read the blog, but don’t get around to commenting, to come out and say hello. So, I’ve decided to do it again.
Last year I wrote:
You see, every day hundreds of people visit my blog. Sure, many of them come in from search engines and only look at the one post they landed on and then never come back. But a lot of people do come back, over and over again, and I really appreciate that. But most of them never leave a comment. And that’s fine. I know not everyone wants to jump in and comment. But I’m curious. Will you satisfy my curiosity for me, just this once? Pretty please?
And 33 people left me comments, including people like Tamara from Parenting by Nature, , Desiree Fawn from So Fawned, Shannon from a Crafty Mom, Heather from the bee in your bonnet, Anji from ghostlove, VDog from Room704, Tara from Feels Like Home, The Noble Savage, Amanda from Family Nature, Loukia from Loulou’s Views, Jessica from This is Worthwhile, and many more. I’ve gotten to know these fine bloggers of the course of the year and would like to get to know many more of you.
If you are a regular reader and you haven’t commented before or haven’t commented in a while, would you drop me a comment to say hello? If you need a topic to write on, tell me what you would like to see me write about in the future. Or just write whatever you like.
No more new posts until enough new people fess up to reading this blog and say hello! 
Let’s aim for at least the 33 comments I got last year.
Ready…set….go!
Image credit: miuenski on flickr
{ 191 comments… read them below or add one }
Actually, I’m a fairly new reader, but I rarely comment on blogs because I just dont have much to say (hence all of the picture posts on MY blog).
So, hi. (I’m nervous.)
Thank you for saying hi! No need to be nervous.
I’m shy, I really am, but I can see I’ve been caught. And really, who likes to be told they’re a “lurker”?. Not that “follower” is all that much of an improvement. We really need to get some better terminology in this fabulous on-line world. I enjoy your blog and your view on all things parenting-related.
How about community member? I like to think of this place as a community.
I don’t comment on anyone’s blog very often. I worry that I’m interrupting a conversation between a writer and an already-established readerbase (I’m not so good at interrupting). I also read most of my blogs via a feedreader that does offline syncing to my phone so I can read on the subway which doesn’t make for easy commenting. I do try to comment when the subject really moves me or makes me think, as your posts often do.
That and being called out to introduce myself. So hello there. To you and everyone here.
melissa:
Never worry about interrupting the conversation. Nothing makes me happier than welcoming new people into the discussion. I don’t consider it an interruption at all!
Hi! I often comment on blogs when I feel like saying something after I read them. I love your site, the pictures are awesome and Breastfeeding is fantastic!!!
Thanks Sandy! I agree that breastfeeding is fantastic, although I think I’m pretty much done with it.
I follow you on Twitter & read your blog. I can’t remember if I commented on your previous delurker post so I’ll just say hello!
Thanks for jumping over from twitter to say hi Lori!
I’m a bit of an outsider in some of your topics, not being a mother or a a parent. But I do enjoy your intelligent — and non-combative — ways you deal with controversial subjects. Hi!
Hi Neil! Haven’t I met you somewhere before?
Hi! I am a regular follower and big fan of your blog. I’ve commented a few times in the past, and I now am a new blogger, writing about parenting and breastfeeding issues! I actually bought a wrap from you during the summer when you were selling off some of your babywearing gear. I’ve gotten some good use out of it thus far with my now 2 year old son…and hope to use it a lot more in the future!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the wrap and that you’ve started a blog too! I will check it out for sure.
I’ve been here a few times and find myself coming back more and more
I think i’ve only commented once though – but here i am 
I don’t get too much time to comment with 3 kids jumping on me all day – but love reading your blog!
Thanks for saying hello Devan.
I’m Katie. I’m a breastfeeding educator in California (working for a WIC office), while taking classes to attend nurse-midwifery school. I also assist a homebirth midwife in my area.
I’ve been reading for several months.
That’s wonderful Katie. We need more women like you out there helping empowering moms for birth and breastfeeding.
I don’t think I’ve commented ON your blog before. I usually tweet you! But, we’ll count this as delurking.
Thank you so much for dropping by Kristine.
Hello! Love your blog & I link to you via Facebook all the time.
Thanks for sharing things on facebook Ameya. I really appreciate it. Facebook has become a great source of new fans and visits for me.
I don’t leave comments because I feel like I have nothing worthwhile to say. I love this blog though and have been reading for a while now. Thank you for all the information you provide.
Anjie: I’m sure anything you would like to contribute would be worthwhile. I’d love to hear your thoughts more often!
I am a guilty lurker. I don’t have a blog, I don’t like to write, but I follow tons of blogs and manage them all with Google Reader. Thus, I rarely end up on the actual blogsite unless the full post does not show up in Reader and I am curious enough to click over. I do love your blog and I am also a “fan” on Facebook, so I have “liked” posts in the past and am slightly, ever so slightly, more likely to comment over there. I also have a “guilt complex”, hence my commenting here.
Keep up the wonderful work!
I started following your blog a few months ago and really enjoy it. I try to constantly improve my parenting and read up on whatever I can to help. I am trying to spare my kids years of therapy, but only time will tell how that works out
*raises hand*
Guilty!
A friend shared a post with me ages ago (several months) and I was intrigued enough that I put the feed into my Google Reader.
Sometimes we agree, often we don’t, but it’s good to gain more perspective on various issues!
I’m a regular reader, and a terrible lurker. I need to speak out more, but I’m often reading while making dinner and comforting a toddler and supervising homework at the same time. Typing requires hands I don’t have!
That is so true Lynn. I often “star” tweets on twitter of posts I want to read and comment on later. I get to some of them and not to others. There are only so many hours (and hands) available.
Hey lady. I haven’t commented in a while, but I’m still reading religiously. There are only a few blogs that I read each and every post, and yours is one of them.
<3 you!
Thanks Erin!
Hi!
I am a new reader/guilty lurker and mom of three. I keep finding your articles on my friend’s facebook pages so now I subscribe on Bloglines.
I really should comment on blogs more. I know how much I appreciate comments on my blog so I really need to smarten up and pay it forward.
Jen
Hi – again.
I am the mom to a nursing and co-sleeping toddler (2 yo, 2 months), so any posts related to those topics are helpful. He’s overall very well behaved so we haven’t had to do too much in terms of discipline, but of course, more is coming, so topics on gentle discipline techniques for toddlers would also be great.
Our only “problem” is that he’s not yet speaking very much. This (somewhat) concerned the doctor. I am personally not very concerned, because I feel like his comprehension is very good, and his hearing. He can point to many many different things. We read a ton and he LOVES to read. We do a lot of talking with him, including pointing and naming things.
However, it is becoming more obvious that he’s behind others in his age group. He’s very shy and doesn’t like to “perform”, so applying even a small amount of pressure (like asking “Can you say X?”) makes him clam up. I’m not sure whether I should completely “let it go” or if I should be trying different things. What do you think?
Amber:
I would take away any pressure to perform if possible. My doctor seemed to sense/know that my son was shy, so at his 2 year and 3 year appointment, she listened to us talking by lurking outside the door and got a sense of how well he was doing language wise before coming into the room (at which point he clammed up completely and didn’t say another word).
I’m not an expert in this field by any means though, so I don’t have any specific advice.
I wanted to comment on Amber’s post because my oldest daughter (who is 27 months) also is a late talker. There is a group called Natural Late Talkers somewhere on the web that I used to visit, and that was helpful. She (my daughter) is like your son in that she has great receptive language, but delayed expressive language. When she was 24 mos., she had only about 8 or 10 words. However, she could follow two-step directions (like, “Take off your socks and put them in your laundry basket.” when the laundry basket is in a totally different room). Our doctor told us that they are much more concerned when kids are not pointing and do not seem to understand what is said to them. In other words, an expressive delay is much less concerning than a receptive delay. So, we just made sure that we were talking slowly, simply, and clearly. I tend to be a fast talker, so I slowed myself down a little bit. We also started natural environment play-based therapy, which you can read about here: http://www.latetalkers.org/index.php?p=More_than_words
Hope this helps!
Hi Amber!
I am mother to two boys who have speech delays. My oldest didn’t speak until he was four, after two years of therapy. We later found out he is missing the speech center of his brain. When I had my second boy (third baby) we found out his speech is delayed too–but not to the same extent. My doc sent us to the developmental pediatrician for a screening and he is now on the waiting list for therapy.
Don’t fear these things. A developmental assessment is play-based, non-invasive and very informative. If you choose to seek it out, you might be able to confirm your suspicions that your boy will be fine, or you might find out he needs therapy, which is also not a big deal.
I am not a professional, but I am very experienced with little boys with delayed speech. Please feel free to contact me through my blog (or even type the word “apraxia” into the blog search at my site) if you want to ask me any questions.
Hello there, I was reading than I was going to post a reply, but I really wanted to add an idea. I hope you don’t mind
My sister was a late talker as well. Our pediatrician, at the time, found out the real issue, and it was me! I spoke for her so she did not need to speak. Do you think this could be a bit of an issue or something to think if it applies? Good luck on figuring this out
I’m a new blogger (though it’s hard to tell if 4 months is new in the time-warp of social media. I love the academic/informed nature of your blog. I think I comment fairly often, though I can’t say for sure if I type it or think it. The latter doesn’t help you much, does it? Happy de-lurking!
Hi, I’ve commented a couple of times before. I’ve even emailed you for advice on pump weaning (thanks for that, by the way! – I’m down to pumping only once a day at work – I have no idea how I will eliminate that one nursing, but it’s a start!). I love the way you combine feminism and attachment parenting in your blog – I strive to balance these two concepts in my own life. Your blog has also been very validating of my own choices around nighttime parenting and breastfeeding. My baby is now almost a year old and still wakes up umpteen times a night to nurse; it’s good to know that this is normal and okay.
My favorite posts are the ones where you share your personal experiences with breastfeeding, parenting, sleeping, etc. I am always so hungry for other women’s experiences! I think that’s why I love blogging as a medium so much.
Keep it up!
Cheers! Inder
Doing a one handed comment as my nearly-7-month old naps in my arms… (this week he decided that he won’t sleep anywhere that is not attached to me, sigh…) I may have commented once or twice before, but mainly I’m a devoted lurker. I found your blog when just barely pregnant with my little man, and it has been a wonderful education on all things AP that I felt would be right for us. And it turns out it has been right for us indeed, we’re a very happy breastfeeding ,babywearing, cosleeping family, thanks for all your wonderful insights into it all!!!
Another “de-lurker” here. I really enjoy your take on things.
Hi
I read all the time, comment occasionally, am often left pondering for days over things I’ve read here, which is a very good thing! Thanks for being one of the guiding lights in my gentle parenting journey.
Hi! I found you from a google search once, and I subscribed immediately. I like your take on things. I don’t always agree, but I do think it’s valuable to hear others’ take on things!
This may not fit something you’d really wanna blog about, but I have been wondering about how long it takes moms to regain their fertility after having a baby and during breastfeeding.
My son is 15 months and nurses several times per day and 1-3+ times at night. I had my first post-partum period at 14 months and nothing since (and negative preg tests). So I’d be curious to learn how long it took moms to have normal periods once again.
I think it can vary quite a lot. I didn’t have normal cycles after my first for 4 years even though he only nursed for 2.5. There were other factors like stress and weight that may have contributed. I was having regular cycles 6 months after my second and I was pregnant again by the time she turned 1. It took a little longer after the third because I was nursing two, but I was regular by 9 months. I assume I was fertile, but we haven’t tested that!
I had my first period at 3 months and was fairly regular within the next few months. I breastfed exclusively and still breasfteed my now 15 month old throughout the day and night, so I dunno. Maybe my body just wants to be pregnant again! heh
Mine came back at around 14 months and I was regular pretty much right away. But I know each mom’s experience is different and certainly nursing can contribute to lack of regularity.
Guilty! I should comment more since I know how great it is when I get them
The biggest problem is that I usually agree with you and so all I can think of saying is “Me too!” I recently weaned my 4yo. She had stopped asking every day, and when she did ask – she never wanted to do more than 2-3 seconds. I finally just told her no and gave extra hugs instead. My youngest (2.5) is still going strong though. Speaking of…she’s ready to sleep so I guess I’m done.
I’m almost at the point of saying “that’s it” too Sarah. Emma just turned three and only asks every few days now and I find it less comfortable now that there is little or no milk.
Hi! I’m a fairly new reader but I read all the time. I enjoy your blog, and maybe I’ll get around to commenting sometimes
Hi I started following about 6 months ago or so, mostly through facebook. I have two children so far, Im an army wife, and Im in training to be a doula/CBE. *waves* Im not a blogger though, I really should I feel left out.
No need to feel left out Sarah. Blogging is wonderful and I think we need more doula bloggers out there (there are a lot already, but more doulas is always better!), but reading, commenting and contributing on other blogs is extremely valuable too. Thank you for taking the time to comment here.
I found you through a shared link on facebook. I love your topics & come back often!
-Colleen
Hi
I’m not even a parent, so I don’t usually comment. But I’m completely on board with about 98% of the stuff you blog about, so I just sit and read quietly. And link back to your blog occasionally (I believe I did on my “Friday Favorites” post last week…or the week before? Maybe both
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for linking to me in your Friday Favorites. I hadn’t seen that previously. I think that is because the url you gave isn’t direct to my blog (seems to be a feedproxy URL), so it didn’t show up anywhere in my trackbacks or web analytics.
*waves*
Er, I don’t have anything at all to say, but I’m here and reading regularly.
I’ll say hello! I visit from time to time, but don’t comment. Sometimes I feel others say what i want to much more eloquently.
I was thinking of doing a delurking post on my blog later this week.
Hi PhD! I’ve been reading for several months, now. After I took my DONA doula training in April last year (eek, my one year anniversary of being a trained doula is coming up soon), I started consolidating sites I frequent in my google reader, and you’ve been there, talking to me through the intertubes, since that day. (-:
I really appreciate your parenting-related thoughts. I’m childless, at the moment (although I expect that will change one day), and your words are preparatory, giving me food for thought about what it is to be a parent.
I read often and comment a lot less lately – I’m still home with three kids full time so my days are pretty packed
I laughed reading my comment from last year regarding balancing family and career and finding affordable child care – I am heading back to work full time in September and have found wonderful, affordable child care a block from my home! Yay for moving forward with life.
Oh wait – this post is not about me
Love your blog and mostly always agree with your point of view – keep up the fantastic work.
Hi!
I read pretty often but never comment. I have this blog on the sidebar of my blog so I can keep up with new posts. I read a little bit of everything on parenting, but this one seems to actually talk about things that pertain to us.
Peek-a-boo! I’m de-lurking. I have commented on occasion but not enough to call myself a regular commenter. I read your blog quite often so I can at least call myself a regular reader.
Hello! I am a birth blogger/doula so I am most interested in your birth and breastfeeding-related posts
Hi! I’m a lurker/follower/community member, too
Love the blog; so insightful and so thought-provoking. It’s one of my indulgences once the kids are in bed.
I confess, I’m a lurker!
I don’t usually comment on blogs, although I follow TONS of them! (Actually, to be quite honest, I believe this to be my first comment ever!)
But I love following your blog on here and on Facebook because we definitely think alike!
I find I’m not commenting much on blogs since Jack was born — mostly because it is much easier to surf and read with one (left) hand, than it is to type with one (left) hand while I nurse and/or am slept on by my almost-eight month old.
I am only a little embarrassed to admit I linked one of your posts to a thread at Kellymom.com where… they had already heard of you! Your blog is super and I find it one of the most ‘convincing’ resources I have to give non-AP parents as you are very informed and your writing is both lucid and interesting. Plus you’re Canadian, which is even awesome-er. Were there such a word.
I’m here and reading! I love your blog and recommend it to others regularly.
*wave* I am also in the camp of “my comment would consist of I AGREE!” all the time lol. However I subscribe via RSS and always read!
Hi there! I have been an avid reader for a few months now. I am striking my own balance on the AP-feminist front and really enjoy the academic bent of your posts and the respect between commenters (for the most part). I would like to comment more but I mostly read while nursing and my one-handed typing is not great.
Keep up the excellent work.
Natalie
Hi Annie,
And also because I would mostly just be saying “Yes! I agree!”
I am an Australian mum of one toddler. I’ve been reading you blog for several months and really enjoy the way you express your point of view so calmly. I haven’t commented before because I read using Google Reader on my phone
All the best from down under,
Kelly
*waves* Howdy. I’ve been reading your blog for a while, now, probably a year. I don’t usually comment because I’m never sure what alias and e-mail address to use. I’ve attempted to start blogs before, but I lose interest and don’t have time. (My eight month old likes to help me type, and when I won’t let him, he wants to walk.) I do appreciate your posts on attachment parenting and I share them with friends on Facebook. Have a great weekend!
Hi. I’m delurking. I read often but rarely comment, often for the same reason as natalieushka (I’m breastfeeding while reading, so I’m one-handed). Thanks for all your honest posts.
Jusy saying hi.
Not sure how long I’ve been reading, but I’m mainly here to read and think and learn and don’t usually have anything to say. I’m about to become a first-time mom in May so I’m just taking it all in right now.
I really enjoy your posts, but don’t often feel like I can contribute much which is why I don’t comment! But, Hi!
I’m in the same boat as another commenter – I read a lot of my blogs via a reader on my phone, so I don’t comment as much as I like. But if only you knew how often I told other people about what I read here!
I have been following you for well over a year. I am a very AP parent in an area of the US that is decidedly “mainstream.” Your blog has been invaluable to me as a resource, and support, for the choices I make. I rarely comment because you and your readers say the things I am thinking far more eloquently than I can.
Oh, to hold us hostage.
I don’t think I’ve commented before, since I seldom comment any where. But if by chance I have can I still count towards your 33? Please?
I love your site. I enjoy your writing and ‘alternative’ topics that I don’t see a lot in other Mommy/parenting blogs that I read. I also greatly appreciate your Canadian-ness. While I’m not Canadian, I am married to one and it’s always a good reminder about how cool people are there. Please keep up your excellent work!
hi there – enjoy your blog and tweets! In addition to my crafting blog – I am the tweeter for a local Breastfeeding Support Center (@BRC4Babies). Nice to “meet” you =)
Hillary
Hi, lurker here! Not many folks around me in real life talk about attachment parenting ideas. I had lots of great support for breastfeeding, but the rest is foreign and strange. I’ve been reading current and past posts that fit with my ideas about attachment parenting that I’m forming. Thanks for being a great resource to a new mom.
Hi – I’m a relatively new reader. I enjoy your blog immensely in that it gives me a chance to THINK about parenting and related topics. I don’t update my own blog nearly enough, but you’re welcome to visit it.
I still read, even if I don’t write! Lots of big changes going on for us now so I’m kind of absent from the online world for a bit. Still enjoy your posts!
I’ve been reading about a year. I started when I found one of your posts about cosleeping back when we were very new to it ourselves. And I found much of what you said so reassuring that I stuck around.
When my daily life is overflowing with the voices of mainstream parenting (formula, cribs, sleep training, scheduling) it is so good to have a place, even a virtual one, that makes a case for some of the choices we’ve made. A place that argues that many of the choices we are making might even (gasp!) be better for our babe than the mainstream alternatives.
Thank you.
As for a future post, there was a NYT article recently about some schools hiring recess coaches. Perhaps something about how important it is for kids to have unstructured downtime.
Hi, guilty as charged. I am a blog lurker. Not just yours, lots of other mama/parenting blogs get the nightly read. I was first turned on to your site with one of your insightful pieces on the cry it out theory. I’ve loved you ever since. Your site is funny and smart and says things I need to hear. I love it because I feel like you’ve done your homework on tough subjects, thus saving me precious time. I’m not much of a commenter because I don’t feel like typing, “Yeah, sing it, sister!” adds anything to the discussion. But maybe it does. Maybe I’ll give it a try. Until then, I’m here, lurking and loving!
I agree with many people here – it’s sometimes hard to think of an interesting comment when my sentiments are “I totally agree!” I’m a new blogger too and I find your blog inspiring and informative.
Let me join the throngs here! I started reading a few months ago (I think via a link at Dani’s Postcards from the Mothership). I love reading other people’s stories about parenting–thanks for sharing yours!
I am one of your many (adoring) lurkers! Mostly, I do “drive-by” blog-reading since I’m generally chasing around a toddler and a preschooler in between blog reads.
Thanks for all of your great work on here!
hi annie! i’m an on and off reader from SEAsia. Waving and saying mabuhay!
This was one the first blogs recommended to me when I found out I was pregnant and it’s definitely been one of my favorites! It’s so…reassuring and sane!
Hi Annie,
Your blog is falls in the “must read” category of my overwhelming RSS feed. I rarely comment here on your actual blog (I’m much more of a Twitter gal), but I RT countless posts by you adding my own “Yes, this!!!” or “Best. Post. Ever”.
Kate (@hygeiakate)
Also guilty as charged. But in my defense, I tend to read your blog while nursing and my son’s favorite nursing position makes it very hard to type simultaneously. I really like reading your insights on the different topics you touch on, and you convinced our family to join the Nestle boycott a while back. So thanks!
Hi there – I read your blog all the time after someone posted a link to one of your posts on baby carriers downunder – yup a ‘downunder’ Mum. I love what you have to say (though most of the stuff about the North American health system etc doesn’t apply to me it is still very interesting) I often don’t have time or inclination to comment – though what you do is fabulous so please keep it up!
Hi Annie, I’m not really a lurker but wanted to post anyway. It’s amazing how much your blog has grown in the past year. I know you work hard at it and have put a lot of yourself into this blog. Great job. Where are you planning to go with this blog? There are some bloggers out there with multiple feeds, books written, forums on their blog, book tours in addition to Facebook and Tweeting that you already do. Just curious where you want your blog to go in the next year.
Alina:
Thank you. Regarding your question… oh my…so much pressure. I’ll have to think on that one.
I love how you’ve created a great space for impacting and useful information! I’m a regular reader, sometimes commenter, but always an admirer.
hey im new too, i like to see whats happenin anytime i catch you on the twitter feed. i need all the help i can get. lol
thanks!!
If a post “speaks” to me, i comment. Sometimes I just come for a read, sometimes I’m half-way through and life come calling so I can’t comment, even though I want to
I’ll definitely be back
I honestly can’t remember if I’ve ever commented here… so, hi- just in case
I am a regular reader and enjoy the information and opinions you provide!
Hello! I can’t remember if I commented last year or not. But in any case, I enjoy your blog, and appreciate the intellectual emphasis that you place on motherhood/parenting. I had a beautiful home birth 3 months ago and just received sample formula in the mail. I of course thought of your blog and am totally on my rampage to find out who sold my name. The only source I can think of is the birth certificate/social security application. (sigh)
Topics I’ve enjoyed here: breastfeeding, nestle, ‘discipline,’ baby-wearing, vaccines…
That happened to me. After a homebirth I was like, how the heck?!?! I called the number on the can and I reached one of the best operators ever. He was really nice, told me that motherhood maternity sold it to them and asked me to donate the formula to a foodbank.
If you live in Canada, I can assure you 100% that the government did not sell your info to Nestle without your consent. I don’t know the privacy laws in the US enough to comment.
I think it’s more likely that it was a maternity clothing store, Babies R Us, or some other commercial outfit. My Nestle sample pack came through signing up for a raffle at Thyme Maternity.
Hi – I’m still here and reading – but not commenting as much these days. Seems the more involved I’ve become in facebook and twitter, the fewer comments I make on blogs. That said, I still write my own blog – and find I read the ones who post links via facebook and twitter posts the much. That’s usually how I know about your latest posts.
I’m a regular reader– I just don’t often have much to add to the conversation!
I comment regularly, I think. I enjoy reading your blog because we have very similar views on thigs, but you’re a much more succint writer than I am. Glad you surpassed your 33!
Hello
I don’t comment very often but I sure appreciate reading your blog and find a lot of posts both inspiring and helpful, especially when I need some reassurance that my parenting decisions are not completely whacky! It’s not always easy to talk about extensive breastfeeding, co-sleeping, attachment parenting to people when they just think you are some granola-eating-hippy-tree-hugger… Thanks again for posting so many interesting things here
Hey there, I’m delurking too. A friend of mine (@breebop) was sharing a lot of your entries with me so I just added you to my reader, and like a few others have mentioned, the reader doesn’t allow for simple commenting via my phone. I really appreciate your posts. It wasn’t until I had my son and experienced (am experiencing) that I realized what some of my views are. And they’re still changing. So, yeah, hi!
I have recently subscribed, but had visited a few times before that following links. I’ve enjoyed the quality and thoroughness of your posts. You’re one of those bloggers that I aspire to be like, but don’t come close. My blog is at descentintomotherhood.blogspot.com
I see I’m not the only one who surfs while nursing.
I think I have commented a couple of times, but I read it everyday. I love hearing about breastfeeding, esspecially as my daughter goes outside the “normal” range of nursing at 15 months old now.
I tend to surf while pumping at work! My wee one is a year old (this weekend!) and we are still going strong in the breastfeeding department. I had just assumed I’d wean her at a year since that’s what “the books” talk about, but I’m just going to keep going for now. I, too, love hearing about extended breastfeeding.
I don’t usually post comments because by the time I get here the comments thread is usually huge and everyone’s said what I wanted to anyway. I’m an APing, geeky, feminist, full-time mum to two boys (aged 8 and 4).
Hello,
I am a new mom of a six month old boy. I found and follow you on Twitter. I usually read on my phone while nursing my son to sleep or on a “break” at work so commenting is a bit time consuming. I am new to the parenting blogger community and still getting a feel for things. I really enjoy your blog and can’t wait until I have time to read through the archives.
I’ve been reading your blog for about a month or so and I’m here to tell you that I’m a fan! I’ve commented a few times before but not regularly. I will say that your blog is an inspiration for me as a somewhat new blogger (6 months) – you write beautifully and intelligently and speak on topics that interest me and grab my attention. I don’t find that too often out in bloggy-land.
I’ll make sure to say *hello* more often.
-Aimee
Yeh, I lurk here.
Hi!
Just de-lurking…
Love your blog. You put things in such a well thought out, informed way.
Keep up the good work.
Hello there!
I actually found you via KM when I clicked on your signature. I have been reading and sharing ever since.
I try to comment if there is something I can add to the conversation, most times things I am thinking about are already there. Other times, as you know, my night owl just nursed to sleep and typing would wake her up again.
You are actually the one of the few people (the rest was from KM) that gave me the idea of starting a blog. Although I am not really great at it. It’s good to do. I am interested in knowing all the good things that will become of this fine place.
Hi. I’ve never commented before. I’m not a mother. Not a parent. I don’t even remember how I found your blog. But I read. So hi.
Hi!
I first commented on your post regarding blog stats. I’m relatively new reader, reading via Google Reader and rarely step by. I discovered you last fall. Good resource, I have enjoyed variety of topics and all this has made me make braver choices regarding my own phd topic choices and plans. I’m mother of a 4-year old son. Being a mother has been a very educational journey for me.
Hello, und guten morgen. I don’t always leave a comment, but I’m always reading!
well it looks like you have got a lot more than last year already, but I’ll add another – hi *waves* I come by often but don’t comment much. sorry about that, will try to do better.
Hi!
I’m a french mother of a 18-months old and I have read your blog for a year with great interest. I don’t always agree with you 100% but I am made to think a lot… I don’t comment much on american or english blogs in general, I confess : I need a lot of time to sum up my thoughts and it’s much worse in english….
Thank you for yout toughts provoking posts!
sphinkx:
Je parle francais aussi. Tu peux toujours laissez tes commentaires en francais!
Hi,
I found your blog from a link on a breastfeeding forum over a year ago and have been an avid reader ever since. I work on computers for a job, so i dont spend a lot of time doing leisure activities on them, so i rarely comment. In fact, I only commented last week when a blog topic surprised me – weird huh! This is pretty much the only blog i read. i look forward to it and have read a lot of past articles too. I especially like your library and have found several books from here. I have learned a lot about breastfeeding advocacy among other things.
I do have a computer geek comment – your main home page doesn’t have a title set.
Thanks for sharing
~~Kim
I’ve never commented here before, so here you go. I put your blog in my RSS reader after running across it randomly at some point — because I might decide to try to have a child in the next few years and even if I don’t, I’m interested in related issues. I don’t comment because I’m not a parent, and I’ve found that non-parents get attacked (on the internet and in real life) for having opinions on parenting issues.
Hi! I never comment, but I am reading you for some months already… I am the mother of a 7 months old baby boy. Cheers!
I’m not sure which digital strands led me here the first time – Twitter, FriendFeed, another blog, maybe a Facebook share. But I’m glad to be a regular reader. I’m the mom of an almost-5yo boy, a feminist, a freelance writer and grateful for your thoughtful, lucid posts.
Hi! I really enjoy your blog and your writing overall. I consider myself a researcher (although honestly, dropping out of my PhD was one of the best decisions of my life!) and I appreciate your rational approach to parenting topics.
I’d love to see you write about attachment parenting and schooling – a la perhaps Alfie Kohn and Gordon Newfeld. I’m debating the merits of public school vs. alternative schools vs. french immersion vs. home schooling. Any thoughts?
And thanks again for your writing. Karen
Hi Karen,
I haven’t written a lot about that topic before. Perhaps I will one day! Our son goes to an alternative language-focused school. Here is one post I wrote about schools:
We need bilingual schools
Hi there! Thanks for the invitation to comment!
I’ve been reading for a while (not sure how I first discovered your site) and would like to thank you for your hard work on this blog and your ongoing advocacy.
Fairly recent lurker here…I found your blog via another blog I follow and really love your writing. It is concise, educational as well as managing to be unoffensive – which is really hard to pull off when you are writing about confrontational subjects! I have three children, who are all past the toddler stage now, but I subscribed after reading “Because I said so” vs “You’re not the boss of me!” It was so applicable to parenting in general, and especially the way I aspire to parent. I’m pretty new to the blogging world, been reading blogs for six or eight months, and just went public with my own recently, so I’m always ‘out there’ finding new fantastic things to read. Your blog counts in that category. Thanks.
I honestly can’t remember how I stumbled upon your blog a few months ago, but the first thing I noticed is that your section on traveling with young kids (and nursing on a plane) was excellent and very reflective of my own experiences. I don’t always agree with everything you write, but I’m still reading along because it’s always interesting. I also like reading blogs written by other Canadian women – I’m living in Thailand at the moment, and I like to think that it’s one way to keep connected to home.
I’m another regular reader via GR . . . My name’s Miranda, I’m 25, American, but living in Switzerland. We don’t have kids (yet!), but somehow I still relate to, and love, this blog!
Hi! I added you to my feed reader about a month or two ago — both a reason I guess I’m not a “regular reader”, but also why I don’t comment much! I really appreciate having the Canadian perspective on the issues you post about, seeing as I live in Toronto.
Yo! I’ve been reading for a while. I don’t have much support for my parenting philosophies ‘in real life’ so I really enjoy all of the bloggers out there who are supplying me with pats on the head about my beliefs. You solidly fall in that camp
I’m not a ‘blogger’ per se, but I have been journaling online for many years. I just don’t have a ‘brand’ in any of the typical sense of that word. I just write about whatever crap is going on in my life. 
NAK!!
I think I’ve commented on your posts and have definitely RT’d you lots but mostly when I read your posts I think “Yes! Exactly!” And usually don’t have too much to add to what you’ve said.
In general though, reading your blog is like a breath of fresh air. I was raised by an attachment-parenting single mom with, especially at the time, very “radical” ideas about parenting (i.e. equality, respect and reason rather than Authority, empathy and understanding rather than punishment) and have found myself fighting against mainstream ideas about kids and parenting ever since I was a kid.
As a grad student studying children, parents and schooling, I’ve been inundated with a surprising amount of uncritical, unreflective and conservative ideas regarding children often put forth by people who are incredibly progressive and forward-thinking in many other areas (it’s strange how many feminist, queer-theory and otherwise egalitarian focused scholars still see children as second-class citizens and less than deserving of full human/personhood status). In my experience, many people in academia are willing and able to think very critically about almost any topic and engage in a worthwhile debate without falling back on cultural aphorisms and clichés but when it comes to children, parenting and cultural beliefs, very few people are willing to really reflect on what they do and/or believe.
Anyway, in all that discussion and me ramming my head against the wall of “because that’s the way it is” your blog lightens my load. You get where I’m coming from, you encourage me to continue not only fighting for change but also to continue thinking critically about what I’m fighting for and be open to different perspectives without giving up my beliefs. I don’t have kids yet but I send links from your posts to my many friends with little ones who are struggling to find their places as peaceful, attached and responsive mammas in a world that seems to keep pushing them to be otherwise.
So, that’s me “de-lurked” and incredibly grateful for everything you do
Hi — I post on KM so “knew” you from there. I followed you to your blog as soon as you posted a link to it. I love getting a Canadian perspective, especially regarding breastfeeding, baby-wearing, WOHMs, Nestle info.
I’ve commented a couple times but mostly just read and ponder.
Hi, I follow you here and on twitter as well. I guess, like many other people who have commented here, I probably qualify as a “lurker” although I really don’t mean to. Most of the time, I simply run out of time to complete a thought and a few days later it doesn’t seem relevant or isn’t really adding to the conversation anymore. So in case I don’t come out of the shadows for a couple more months or more, I want to take a moment now to tell you how instrumental your blog has been in my own parenting journey. I really appreciate how information-heavy your posts are as well as all the links you include to other resources. Also, I will try to comment more often!
Hi, I’m a lurker too. I actually quite like the word ‘lurk’, though I know how nice it is to get comments, too. I don’t always feel I have much to add to the conversation, but I definitely enjoy reading.
I’m a Canadian mom of 2, living in a small town in Argentina, occasionally experiencing some parental culture shock. I appreciate feeling a bit more grounded in my own perspectives by reading blogs like yours, as here I often feel quite alone with respect to *some* aspects of parenting.
Just started reading your blog about a month ago. I’m a pregnant academic and I was looking for something astute and engaging to read on parenthood online.
Hi! I usually miss these delurking days for some reason, but I guess I came back on the right day! Thanks for writing what you do. I have got a lot of info from your website and I really appreciate the research you do about Nestle.
Hope you have a great day!
Becky
I’ve been reading you for awhile. Your blog was suggested by googlereader and it’s really interesting.
I’ll chime in. I don’t think I’ve commented on here before, but I really do enjoy reading your blog. I’m new to this parenting gig, and I’m a research maniac. I consider this one of my “sources” of fodder for when I’m heavily ruminating on a topic. So, thanks!
Not sure how I found you but I love reading your blog! Thanks for writing!
Hi there! I’m a new blogger & I’ve just recently come across your blog. I admit to being a lurker most of the time, although I’m starting to come out of my shell a bit. What a great idea “delurking” is – I love it! If you ever have a chance, stop by and say “hey!” It’s getting a little lonely with just me & my 2 followers:)
Hi PhD
I will add my thoughts as I am a dedicated “lurker” follower, but have only every commented once before for a contest.
I found you while searching for blogs about extended breastfeeding. My son is 26 months and our last baby, so I hope for it to last for awhile yet, he is not terribly verbal yet (thanks to the other commenter above who sent the link to LateTalkers!), so I really want to nurse until we can really chat about it. My daughter who is four was much more verbal but weaned at 20 months while I was pregnant with her brother.
Some other notes: thanks for sharing about Nestle. My mom made us boycott when I was very little, but I thought the story was “over”. I am trying hard to notice what I buy (especially at Easter chocolate time).
Finally, I would love to read your thoughts about the support in Canada for returning to work and continuing to nurse and figuring out pumping when your child is over the age of 1! I live in Calgary and there was lots of “help” to be found in the early stages of nursing. But with so many women taking the entire year for mat leave and being encouraged to nurse past one year “as long as mother and child want”, it seems like the public system has dropped the ball in helping us actually do that! One of the reasons I started reading so much online and heading to LLL was that I really couldn’t figure out how to go back to work (even part-time) and keep up. Of course we managed, but it was a lot of extra work that was difficult to plan for – I recall desperately uncomfortable driving to get my daughter from the dayhome, so that I could nurse her before walking the dog even though I had pumped lots already during the day.
Thanks for your writing!
Hi Nicole,
Thank you for your detailed comment.
I actually have written a few things on those topics:
Reconsidering the 11 month wean
SAH or WOH? How can we stop restricting mothers’ choices?
Thanks! I will bookmark these ones for the next time someone asks me “how do I do it?”
I knew that I didn’t want to recommend the way I did it.
I find it particularly interesting that the daycare at 9 or 18 months is better for starting. I suspect a huge part of my daughter’s angst was the daytime weaning on my days at work, since the bottle did not do the trick! My son went to a daycare provider he already knew and I had a much more peaceful work schedule from 12-18 months, giving me more flexibility to leave early if needed.
Nicole
Hi!
I read often too but I’m afraid to comment because sometimes our views clash. Most of the time they are totally together but sometimes…sometimes I feel like if we knew each other we’d have a shouting match…LOL
All that said, I read because I think you do a fabulous job in educating and enlightening folks on attachment parenting – it’s hard to get anyone to understand why I feel so strongly about extended breastfeeding and co sleeping.
Honestly, the only subject that we are going to have to agree to disagree on is the whole Nestle Boycott. I adopted my first two children and although I successfully induced lactation it would have never been enough so supplementing was the only way to go and having had people look at me while they nursed and I feeding my daughters a bottle with beady eyes and judging might have produced a bias. Who knows?
Amanda: Please don’t be afraid to comment due to clashing views. I enjoy respectful dialogue. It is also harder to change people’s minds when I don’t know what their reasons are for not agreeing with me!
I have been reading regularly for a month or so now, but am pretty shy about jumping in unless I really want to say something. This is one of the few blogs I check daily though, and I find so many of the topics interesting.
Hi there! I’ve been reading for a few months!
I found your blog through Kellymom’s Facebook group a few weeks ago. I love reading a thoughtful perspective on how we think about children and parenting in our society.
It looks like you got more then 33 comments, where is the new post?
I’m a frequent lurker and occasional commenter. Thanks for the babywearing, breastfeeding and Nestle-related posts in particular. I often refer friends to your blog.
Hi, it seems I stopped by at the right time – this is my first visit to your blog and my first comment on any blog. I’m new to the parenting world and found you while researching opinions on on the CIO method – well said!
Well, I’m not exactly a lurker – but I’ll say hi anyway.
Hi!
This is also my mental kick in the pants to send you a couple of overdue emails. I’m sure you will be breathless with anticipation
Where are those e-mails Dionna? I’m still waiting. Breathless with anticipation.
I’m an occasional commenter, it’s one of my current goals to leave more comments because I know how thrilled I am when I get any. But I have a confession – I’m yet to work out readers. If a blog has an email rss I’m fine, but I’ve tried subscribing to a few without and don’t know where they are – there are all these posts sitting in cyberspace waiting for me to find them!
But this is a great opportunity, because I actually gave you a Kreativ Blogger Award and told my readers to come over here, but I’ve been looking for a way to tell you – I didn’t want to throw it into the middle of an interesting discussion! So there you are, thankyou for a delurking post.
Before I had a baby, I read parenting sites and didn’t feel I had permission to comment (from myself, obviously, since who else was going to give it to me?). Since having a baby, I still read parenting sites, but have so much less time and energy to put into coherent thoughts! Hoping that starts to change, now that he’s a year old…
Wow I think you managed to make your goal! Well done!
I pop over for a read from time to time but can’t believe I haven’t subscribed yet… off to do that now!
Hi there. I read your blog now and then because a friend on Facebook is a regular reader and she passes on some topics to me and others. Good stuff!
For everyone who claimed not to comment because they were nursing at the keyboard, unless you are nursing more than one at once, no more excuses. See my latest post Nursing at Keyboard (NAK): How to give boob and type too: http://bit.ly/bAdUAX
/delurk
howdy. I mostly read but don’t comment – because of my last, incomprehensibleness.
/relurk
You’re on my Google Reader. I think I found you through Twitter and conversations with @helpamotherout. I may have left a comment or two, but mainly I just read along.
hello! I think I’ve commented once or twice, but tend not to since you always have so many very pertinent comments. I like your energy and passiom for the things you believe in, and though I don’t always agree entirely with everything you say, I admire your clarity of voice, your feminism and the love you have for parenting and for your kids that comes through in your writing.
I don’t think this counts as de-lurking, but I’m here!
really enjoy your blog! Love to lurk… but I’ll try to comment more often!
Cheers!
Hi!
I just love your voice / writing! We need your confident loving words to keep us ‘like minded’ Moms going… so lovely to know I’m not alone.
Hello,
I have been following you for a little while now. I think I stumbled onto your blog somewhere in the past year through facebook share, but I only recently ‘followed’ your blog and put it on my blog’s blogroll. I’m not sure if I commented before, so I put in the effort to do that now.
Usually I am a big commenter, because I feel the same as you when I’m over at my blog, so I figure I can at least do the favor to others I expect them to do to me.
Not NAKing so very often any more, she became too big for that.
Hello Annie!
You are doing a wonderful job at educating people on AP . Thank you for that.
I read your blog regularly, but don’t reply because I don’t have anything new to say. All I could say is I agree. lol I am commenting now, because I’d like to get another post from you.
Hi – yes I am officially a lurker as well. I found your blog a few months ago when my babe was just a few months old. I discovered the world blogging and have enjoyed reading yours very much. I follow through Google Reader so don’t often click to comment. Plus I feel I don’t have much to contribute – or time to do so holding a wiggling babe – I am not a blogger myself. However, reading first hand experiences and getting information on AP has been so important to me – I feel like I am not alone at this mothering thing and have found reinforcement for what I instinctualy feel is right for us. I even purchased some books you recommended from Amazon – your library suggestions are fantastic! Thanks for all you do.
Hey thanks for the mention! Thought I’d comment since I haven’t in a while. Life is busy, busy. I struggle with it all — kids, school, reading blogs that I love, writing on my own blog, keeping the house in order, volunteering, and everything else. Quiet as I may be, I’m still here, still reading. Even when I’m not on the computer much, yours is one of the few blogs I read religiously.
I’ve been following you for a bit now… usually on the blog feed. I’m a breastfeeding, home-birthing librarian, usually reading if there’s a few slow minutes on the reference desk. Just recently thinking I should go back to your post on tracking blog stats, as I just found out that my little book blog, Librarymama, has readers outside of my friends list. Honestly, I had no idea.
Hi! I have been reading…I think I have even commented a couple of times. The blog world is pretty new to me…and your blog seems SO professional…so I guess, even though I have a background in higher ed. I get a little intimidated.
Hi; I used to be a rabid Attachment Parent, lost my religion when my second kid was born, and have been happily “detachment parenting” my little brood of four since then.
I’m here because I’d like to recapture just a little of my youthful idealism about motherhood. LOL. And because I find it interesting to reflect on the cultural/class issues that intersect with ideals about motherhood. Blue-collar families out here in the boondocks have an entirely different vision about childrearing than the academic types did back home, that is for sure. The hubris of the latter type both attracts and repulses me in a totally dysfunctional way, so blogs like this satisfy a pretty messed up sort of voyeurism on my part.
In some ways I find myself a fish out of water in both camps.
Howdy!
I’ve commented before, but a while ago and not very often – so hello!!
I still really enjoy reading your blog and your views, even if I’m quiet
Johanne from formerly Chatter-Box Joe, although I’m currently blog-less.
I wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who delurked. I had wanted to respond to each comment individually, but there are so many and I know you all want me working on more original content, right?
I did read them all and I’m going to go through again and answer any more that have specific questions, but otherwise consider this a general reply and big THANK YOU to all of you. It is so nice to see you come out of hiding.
Guess you have several more hundreds of daily visits this year…
I wanna delurk too. I’m from Chile, mom to a special need girl, and I have no idea how I found your blog but I really enjoy it. Keep u the good work
Hi,
I stumbled across your blog quite a while ago, before I was even pregnant possibly. I now have a one month old son and am reading many parenting blogs, including yours, usually while breastfeeding (constantly at the moment!).
Alice
Hello! New reader here. =) Thanks for your thoughtful blogs and helpful articles.
Hi! I found your blog through a blog carnival we both did. I’m a somewhat new mom (8 months) and a very new blogger ( 2 months) and am still discovering all the best parenting blogs, like this one
I think I’ve commented a couple times. I’m very conservative both politically and religiously, so I often feel out of place in the attachment parenting community. Interestingly, it was hardcore Catholic Republicans who got me into AP in the first place! My degree is in political science though so I love a good debate, even if I feel like I’m the only one on my side!
I’m a newcomer to your blog, having tracked it down from reading several posts on crying it out. I was feeling pretty desperate with my 6 month old and her sleep patterns (nursing all night, every night, while we co-slept). I had vowed never to let her CIO, but was beginning to feel pressure from family and friends to try it. However, after reading your blog and lots of others I held out. I have now managed to get her to sleep by rubbing her back. She still nurses several times through the night, but is no longer permanently attached to the nipple. So that’s how I got hear, and now I really enjoy checking in. Oh, I especially like that you’re Canadian. It’s nice to see some great Canadian content!
Fiona (Vancouver)
Hi,
Just thought I’d say hello. Tracked down your blog, and wow, what a great resource of info! Looks like you’ve definately beaten the 33 comments in last years post!
Hi,
I have been reading for a while. I have also been blogging for about six months, a blog about vegetables, but I am newly pregnant and not even able to look at a vegetable right now, so have stopped blogging for a bit. Otherwise I’d use this opportunity to whore out my own blog!
Hopefully I’ll be back in the saddle soon. I enjoy reading your blog and often discuss your posts with my friends. Though you obviously don’t know this, you and I have worked really hard together to help my friends understand more about cosleeping/attachment parenting/breastfeeding past six months, etc. I send them links all the time–I just sent a friend your saggy boobs post because she is convinced that her boobs are for her husband and will be destroyed if she nurses. So thanks!
Hi! I don’t honestly know if I’ve commented here before or not, but I read your blog regularly and link to you over at my green-mom blog frequently…My kids are now 5 and 7, so I’m not breastfeeding any more, but I’m trying to stay aware of what’s going on. Love what you do, and what you write about!
–Jenn the Greenmom
Hi! I am a newish reader and infrequent blogger but I enjoy your posts tremendously. I have a 4 year old spirited daughter whom I adore, but who requires the patience of Job, the strength of Samson and the wisdom of Solomon – none of which I have. I am in the midst of seeking a developmental/psychological evaluation for her to determine if there is more that my husband and I can be doing to to help her. I have known she was different from birth and enjoy reading what you and others have to say about child development. – Kats
I’ve been reading your blog irregularly (mainly following links from other parenting blogs) for the last couple of years, but only recently subscribed… Recovering from doing a PhD and finding a way to balance professional life with parenting, I like what you write here, but I particularly enjoy how you do it – putting together emotions and references to existing research.
I hardly comment, not only here, but also in other parenting blogs. Partly because lurking works well enough for me – I learn a lot, make my own choices and usually don’t have a need to discuss it further. Partly since I don’t have an online identity as a parent – it feels strange to link back to my professional blog here, but not linking to anything feels even worse – I blog and research blogging practices long enough to know how important it is.
I had followed links to posts in the past, but will now become a regular reader since I have a 10 week old boy and want to be the best parent I can be. I love your approach to discussing issues based on lots of research, and not just on opinion as is much more common.
I just found your blog…I love your rigorous, intellectual approach to parenting issues and your passionate activism. Keep it up!
I’ve seen your blog before, but just started reading it a few days ago. It seems like we agree on many things! I don’t tend to comment on blog posts very much just because normally there are other people who have already said what I was thinking. Plus I don’t have a lot of “internet time” and prefer to use my time reading more material instead of forming comments. Thanks for writing! I think you will help a lot of people in raising their children.
Your blog, Annie, is one of the first I followed after getting active on Twitter a couple of years ago. The topics you discuss and the way that you present them have always appealed to me. Though I don’t always hold the same views, I’ve never felt that I couldn’t respectfully share my opinion. Frankly, I’ve learned so much through you that I wish I had known so long ago.
So, even though I’ve been more of a lurker more recently, I hope you know that I really value what you do.
No one has commented to say hello here in awhile but I came across this post and wanted to say hi! I stumbled upon your blog a few weeks back and I don’t post comments here (or anywhere else) very much, but I do love reading it! The posts I’ve read, along with the comments, have made me think and so I’ve learned something new from you or learned to think about other points of view. Thank you for such thought provoking information!!
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