Maybe knowing that I am unsuited for mothering has helped me. I have approached this as any other new job with extreme responsibilities. I have studied and researched, and then read some more. I have gone through extreme fear and anxiety. And I have fought with my mate and the rest of my family many many times.
So far, I was able to have a doctor-free, hospital-free birth. I have avoided ultrasounds and other pregnancy testing, newborn vitamin K shot and eye drops, vaccinations, and baby formula. I have managed to raise an in-arms, co-sleeping, extended-breastfeeding baby. I have completely avoided "toilet training" and triumphed over the "she will never learn unless you make her" people when my 3.5 yr old has decided she wanted "panties". I have never said things that put down "babies" in favour of "big girls". I have never said "good job" or any other such phrases that imply that my daughter does things for my approval rather than her own self-satisfaction. And I never will. The word "no" is reserved for potential injuries (scratches and bruises do not count), distruction of property, and purchases that are totally beyong budget. "No" is usually followed by "lets figure out a better way to get you what you want".
I am not always successful, but I am attempting non-authoritarian parenting and TCS. It's mostly uphill because both my mate and myself have been brought up by people who believed in "authority" and "respect for ones elders and betters". I know that where I succeed, my daughter will have it easier.
I often feel alone, because people seem to change just one thing about the socially accepted way of parenthood, and life in general. One would think that once one "different", "mindful" thing was accomplished, be it chosing your own spiritual path, having a natural birth, breastfeeding, or Attachment Pantenting, that others would follow naturally. But apparently not so. People who have refused authoritarian, "one true creator-diety" religions, often have scheduled c-sections and feed their babies formula. People who have a natural birth only breastfeed for a few weeks and then send their babies off to "school". People who breastfeed, give their babies their own room, and ignore their crying. People who co-sleep, baby-wear, and breastfeed, are practicing authoritarian parenting and saying how they cannot wait until their children can be sent off to school. And so I am stuck. I have my pagan groups, my bi-poly groups, my natural birth & breastfeeding advocate groups, my AP groups, my homeschool groups... and goddess forbid that I mention Attachment Parenting or unschooling at my pagan or bi-poly group.
So, the "fight" goes on. By living our life and raising our children in the way that we do, attempting to see that everything is a choice, attempting to question and research every choice, we (myself and others like me) are creating a precident.