when a friend is going to have a baby and asks eric or i for a book recommendation, the continuum concept is generally the first book we suggest, that and kids are worth it. the continuum concept shaped us as parents in a lot of ways, connecting ways like the family bed, wearing them and keeping them close, including them in whatever we were working on in the kitchen or folding laundry. it's been a while since i read that book cover to cover, it's by my bedside but i've just been reading other things like hold onto you kids and free-range kids. i had to skip ahead in hold onto your kids, because i was feeling bummed on all the stories of children and parents losing their connection. i skipped ahead to the suggestions on keeping that connection. i didn't get to finish the book, it was due back at the library, i will check it out again...i was finding it extremely valuable. now as i've been reading free-range kids it feels a bit oxymoron, the basic subject of cutting the apron strings, reading two books side-by-side about holding onto your kids and letting them go. it's a tricky balance. we value our children knowing that we are always there for them, supporting them and we value giving our children the tools to go, spread their own little wings and fly. we're figuring it out. it's hard. it's good. it's confusing. society says one thing, the neighbor another, and my heart yet another. all we can do is trust ourselves, trust them, give opportunities and learn from mistakes. remember what works for one family may not work for another, or even, what works for one child may not work for the other. i recently was forwarded this article. i will check the book out eventually, but maybe for now i'm going to let all this sink in and go with my gut. let our children go with theirs and simply take some time to really listen to that little quiet voice, that gut feeling, that instinct we all have and expand our freedom of living....come what may, bee stings and all.