A friend forwarded me an article that attempts to claim that our early hunter-gatherer ancestors raised happier, more compassionate kids—thanks to natural birth, extended breast feeding, and co-sleeping. Should modern parents follow suit?
I am extremely wary of granting premises such as these. One would have to present serious evidence to back up a claim of this nature.
There are straightforward and obvious explanations for a lack of empathy in our kids: it stems from the cultural philosophy, which penetrates their environment. Cynicism, a negative view of the world, second-handed pressures. These are the things our society is drowning in.
Raising your kids to run outdoor and enjoy the beauty of the world, take pride in their own creative achievements, love those around them while growing up without the constant fear of the boogie-man is going to cultivate the generosity of spirit, positive sense of life and the ability to connect with others. Are the hunter-gatherer societies more like that than the 21st century America? In times of peace, certainly. But a proper modern society would do far better. (Yes, we are seriously considering going to New Zealand once our kids are educated.)
These basic philosophical explanations are rather obvious, straight-foward, and don't require the stretching necessary to attribute these things to medical interventions involved in child birth.
Here is another way to look at it: a young mother says: "Boy, I'd like to raise generous and compassionate human beings with a positive sense of life." Do you tell her a) don't get an epidural! or b) have a long conversation about values, positive discipline, proper ethics and respectful parenting?
Sure, breastfeeding is great. Co-sleeping has its advantages. But in the grand scheme of things, a mother who had to have a c-section and was unable to breastfeed, but follows proper parenting principles will fare better than a la leche league mom with a negative world view.
