What a wonderful Carnival! Thanks to all the bloggers who wrote so eloquently from their hearts and a huge thanks to all our readers and commenters.

Next Steps

If the posts this week resounded with you and you are or you want to strive to be a gentle parent there are several things you can do:

Show the world that you are a Gentle Parent!

If you have a blog or website or you post on message boards you can add the Gentle Parent Badge to your site/signature.  Please keep the link back to the Carnival so anyone who sees your badge can read the wonderful bloggers from this week.

Copy and Paste this code into your blog (an HTML widget usually works):

<a title="Carnival of Gentle Discipline" href="http://babydustdiaries.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mmas21.jpg2010/04/carnival-of-gentle-discipline-call-for-submissions-now-with-100-more-button/"><img src="" alt="Gentle Parent - art by Erika Hastings at http://mudspice.wordpress.com/" width="120" height="120" /></a><br />

If you are on a message board that does not allow html you can copy this code into your signature:
[url=http://babydustdiaries.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mmas21.jpg2010/04/carnival-of-gentle-discipline-call-for-submissions-now-with-100-more-button/][img]http://mudspice.wordpress.com/[/img][/url]
There are two other pledges that you can take that are beautiful.  Edenwild has a Pledge of Gentle Love that says “I don’t believe in tough love.”

I also like Holistic Mom’s Declaration – Mindful Mama: Authentic Self.  This declaration is beautiful because it focuses both on being gentle to children and to yourself.

Parenthood is a gift.
I have many passions.
My child is my heart.
I am a multifaceted being.
My child’s needs come before my own.
Not ‘in place of’ my own.
Nothing is a sacrifice.
I choose to do from love.
I am there when my child needs me.
I take space for myself.

Keep Learning

In asking for submissions from writers for the Carnival I also asked them to nominate some of their previously published posts for a Creme de la Creme list of the Best of the Blogosphere on Gentle Discipline.  Enjoy these wonderful articles to help you enhance your repertoire of parenting techniques.

Carnival of Gentle Discipline crème de la crème post 2010

A Chance to Choose Nurturing Instead of Punishment
Arbitrary discipline
Children As Dogs
Chrsitian Child Discipline:  Is Spanking Biblical? No!
Dysfunctional
Focusing on Children’s Needs
Gently Responding to a Baby’s Bite
I Found The Instruction Manual for Raising Children
Improv and Saying Yes
Intentional Parenting with Grace
Is Spanking Necessary? My Answer from Experience is a Definitive NO
Letter on Christians and Spanking
My Kid is in So Much Trouble!
Respond With Sensitivity – Why Yelling Is Wrong And How You Can Avoid It
Riders on the (Tantrum) Storm
Spanking as just kinda creepy
Staying Patient
Swatting students
Teaching Patience
Tearing a Child Down Will Not Build Him Up
The Tyrannical Toddler: Beyond Power Struggles to Choice, Reason and Negotiation

Vote!

Last but not least @Birthgoddess of Wild Mother Arts was so kind to donate a $25 gift card to the blogger with the post voted best for the Carnival and we want you to vote!  I know there are 17 amazing posts and it is hard to pick just one, but if you could take a minute and vote for your favorite over on the right that would be great! Wild Mother Arts is beautiful fertility, birth, and nursing jewelry made by a doula, breastfeeding counselor, and mother of 3.  Visit her on Facebook or Twitter.

Final words:  I’m so proud of how this Carnival turned out.  Carnivals are fun and generate great conversation but if even one person learned a new technique to help them treat their child with a gentle heart then it was worth every second of labor.  I said on day one that I think gentle discipline changes more than just a parent and a single child.  It really has the power to change the world. So, I leave you dear reader with these words of wisdom that are over 2,000 years old.

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.


If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.


If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.


If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.


If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.


– Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.)

 

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