"Attachment Parenting"

     I can't help but completely agree with Erica Jong when she writes in her article that attachment parenting is "a prison for mothers, and it represents as much of a backlash against women's freedom as the right-to-life movement." It is incredible to expect every modern woman to drop everything in her life to spend every moment with her child. Yes the relationship between mother and child is important, but demonizing mothers who do not have the resources to do this is terrible. 
     I'm sure that all of us agree that it would be awesome to have all of the money it costs to raise a child just laying around but that isn't the reality for most women. Many single mothers have no choice but to work and parent, and there's nothing wrong with that. Other women may have a career that is important to them and do not want to end it on account of their children. In this instance the father of the child should help with the child rearing as well. We don't praise fathers for being permanently attached to their children so why do we expect it from mothers? This is because child rearing is seen as something that is primarily the woman's responsibility. 
     My mother worked full time growing up and didn't take much time off when she had my brother or I. And guess what? We turned out pretty darn good if you ask me. I don't have a mommy complex where I feel that there is a gaping hole in my life because my mom wasn't a housewife. And even with her full time job my mother took on the majority of the domestic tasks in the house. I can't imagine how she could have done anything more let alone this so called "attachment parenting." It is idolizing something that is only available to the financially well-off and condemning those who cannot or do not wish to take the same path.