MovieChat Forums > Mayim Bialik Discussion > Commentary on 'Beyond the Sling'

Commentary on 'Beyond the Sling'

posted 12 years ago by Doctor_vanNostrand
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Given the often heated debates over Mayim's more "unconventional" parenting methods and some of the vitriol on this forum from wannabe tabloid reporters, I thought I'd wait to read her book before significantly weighing in.

I still remain skeptical about a few areas such as elimination communication and her own remedies. After having read "Beyond the Sling", I can surely say that she does not judge others who do not practice the guidelines of AP as she does with her sons. A lot of times, she used the phrase "worked for our kids". I can certainly relate to her experiences having seen it all during my childhood and regularly dealing with pre-school kids. Mayim cited instances where she was "short" with her husband or her kids. It happens even to those with nearly infinite patience, but I can guess that the kids see these instances as the exception rather than the rule.

I skipped over most of the chapter on unnecessary medical interventions, especially the list of home remedies. She did make a good point in saying that our society subscribes to the notion that any of our physical and psychological issues can be resolved with a pill. That point is similarly emphasized in the chapter on natural birthing. True, recent medical advances have significantly reduced the number of miscarriages, still-births, and maternal deaths during labor, but these medical interventions are not always necessary. Recent studies done on unnecessary C-sections can attest to that.

What I found most fascinating is how polite her two sons while never having told them to say "please" and "thank you", but instead emphasized modeling that behavior. I can certainly relate after my brother learned to cuss when he was a baby. I wrote a paper on vicarious learning (seeing the behaviors of others being rewarded or not penalized) for one of my educational psychology courses that foreshadowed I would deal with high-school students quoting "South Park". I was amazed how right I was when I was student teaching.

While not entirely related to parenting, I enjoyed her statement that "If I had a penny for every time someone told me gentle discipline doesn't work, I'd be rich and the carpets in my house would be clean." I guess that's because that comment indicates she's not as wealthy as many think she is.

Now, (and I hate to be that guy) let me lay down a few ground rules for this thread. I will not respond to anyone who claims that AP is the same as permissive parenting, nor will I respond to those who automatically assume that Mayim is some uppity Hollywood celeb presuming to tell us regular blue-collar working folk how to live our lives. I still vividly remember Tom Cruise the Scientologist putting his two cents in over Brooke Shields taking medication for her post-partum depression and being a judgmental prick about it. Believe me, Mayim Bialik is no Tom Cruise. I don't completely agree with the extent to which she practices holistic medicine, but at least, she's not all up in other celebs' business about it.

I will, however, welcome any praise, as well as respectful or constructive criticism.

I rarely kid. When I do kid, you'll know it from my use of the word ***BAZINGA***

[–] sinkingthinking 12 years ago

I skipped over most of the chapter on unnecessary medical interventions, especially the list of home remedies. She did make a good point in saying that our society subscribes to the notion that any of our physical and psychological issues can be resolved with a pill. That point is similarly emphasized in the chapter on natural birthing. True, recent medical advances have significantly reduced the number of miscarriages, still-births, and maternal deaths during labor, but these medical interventions are not always necessary. Recent studies done on unnecessary C-sections can attest to that.To what extent I wonder does this explain her support for circumcising babies without anaesthetic? It absolutely baffled me that someone as educated and dedicated to her children would allow such torture to happen to them. She doesn't want to spank them, but tearing off a piece of the body which on a baby is fused on like fingernails, without pain relief is OK? Made no sense to me.

I imagine now that it's a combination of four things: like most people, not knowing enough about the physiology of the newborn penis and the complexity of the procedure to conceive of why it would be as painful as it's now thought to be; buying into the disproven claims of Orthodox rabbis that it's not very painful (e.g. mistaking the common passing out and becoming semi-conscious from pain for "sleeping through it"); feeling that its legality and commonality in the USA means it can't really be that bad instead of knowing the actual historical reasons (e.g. the fact that newborns were believed incapable of feeling pain and not given pain relief for ANY surgical procedures at the time that it became routine); and her belief in erring on the side of not taking drugs.

In a way, at least her decision not to take pain killers during her own labour suggests that she has a genuine tendency to distrust drugs, and she didn't just deny her sons them because following a religious practice as traditionally as possible was more important than their well-being.

Slut = "stud" + vagina
Camp = "bubbly" + penis

[–] Doctor_vanNostrand 12 years ago

On the issue circumcision, it is a bit baffling that this is one scientific dogma she does adhere , especially considering she chose not to vaccinate her kids. I guess it's not as big a deal when they're home-schooled. And at least it's not out of the foolish belief that vaccines cause autism. I noticed at least one commenter on her Facebook page mentioned practicing "delayed vaccination."

I rarely kid. When I do kid, you'll know it from my use of the word ***BAZINGA***