Practicing NFP seems to have naturally led us down a few paths so far. Perhaps the most direct has been leaning towards an Attachment Parenting style, as using breastfeeding to space children falls in with that approach. There are a couple other fairly "crunchy" outlooks we have started to consider as well (although my husband the scientist hates that word!).
However, I was recently reminded that just because the two of us are leaning in these directions does not mean that all NFP couples feel the same way. And that's perfectly okay. Just because a couple chooses to do or not do certain things does not make them a somehow more or less genuine NFP couple.
Some but certainly not all (and not necessarily even most) NFP couples...
- Want to have as many children as possible.
- Want a natural childbirth with no medical interventions.
- Use ecological breastfeeding with no pacifiers.
- Use cloth diapers.
- Use elimination communication.
- Use cloth feminine products.
- Have a wife who stays at home.
- Are wary of vaccines.
- Wear their babies.
- Co-sleep.
- Homeschool.
- Are mistrustful of pharmaceutical companies.
- Use herbal remedies and more natural products.
- Try to eat healthy and fairly organic.
Actually, in rereading the list I think many of these issues would fall more under the purview of people taking a more secular Fertility Awareness outlook based more on environmental concerns, as opposed to a distinctly Christian NFP perspective. Either way, it seems to me that the common denominator is that once a couple is confident in the way their bodies naturally work, they're more open to more natural approaches to other topics. When they realize they don't need contraception, they start thinking about other things that society pushes that might be unnecessary. Overall, they are empowered to trust natural alternatives.
Right now I'd say somewhere between 8 and 12 of the 14 points on the list above apply to us, although we're really only dead-set on about 4 of them and I reserve the right to change my mind on anything once the baby actually gets here! How about you? How many of these approaches characterize your life/plans? Anything you would add to the list?