Announcements and Opportunities

Attachment Parenting International condemns federal immigration policies that separate children from their parents at the U.S. border. API implores our leadership to prioritize the healthy attachment needs of all children and families, including immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. We strongly reject any immigration policies that traumatize children and their parents.

The encouraging work of Dr. Bruce Perry, expert on child trauma and Attachment Parenting International Advisory Board Member, goes prime time this Sunday!

Announcing PARENTING FOR WORLD HARMONY, the latest issue of Attached Family: http://theattachedfamily.com/

Editor Rita Brhel

Inside this issue, you'll find features to inspire your discussions about world peace and harmony, including:

• Youth empowerment as peace education

• From the family bed to the peace corps

• New parents need attachment education

• Nurturing doesn't spoil kids

• For better or worse, parenting changes your child's DNA

• Talking politics with your children

• Infant massage with Vimala Schneider McClure

• Random acts of kindness with Brooke Jones

• Mindful parenting with Inga Bohnekamp

• A look back on AP Month 2016

In this issue of Attached Family, we examine shame versus guilt and how shame contributes to emotional trauma. We look at the intersect of parenting and shame, keeping in mind that shame is a normal emotional response to certain social situations, but like anger or disappointment, when unresolved, shame can lead to lifelong difficulties.

Inside this issue, you'll find mind-bending, inspiring, and empowering features to stretch your parenting wings:

• "What is Shame?" by API Executive Editor Rita Brhel -- defines shame, how it differs from guilt, when it crosses the line to become toxic shame, and what parents need to know
• "Core Beliefs Color Your Parenting," also by Rita Brhel -- explains how shame-based core beliefs affect our everyday decisions, including our parenting behaviors
• "What Makes Emotional Trauma? Fear, Disconnect and Shame," an interview with Daniela Sieff, PhD -- explores the ingredients to developing a shame-based view of oneself and what is all involved in healing, which certainly underlines the importance of prevention through parenting
• "Parenting as a Protest Against Hate" by Lauren Gottschalk-Scher, fashion designer -- looks at how parenting can be activism
• "What is Normal, Healthy Infant Sleep?" by API KnowledgeBase Coordinator Art Yuen -- discusses what biologically 
• normal sleep in infants, and adults, looks like and the effects that artificial light and work productivity expectations have
• "6 Tips to Lessen Separation Anxiety," also by Art Yuen -- looks at goodbye routines and other ideas for children and their parents when separation is necessary, such as for working parents
• "Self-Validation Before Self-Control" by Denise Durkin, MA, parenting consultant -- explains how development of a

Infants and parents benefit from breastfeeding and sleeping near one another, reducing SIDS risk by 50%

Attachment Parenting International responds to 2016 AAP Statement on Infant Sleep