Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time now know I've made many posts regarding NFP.
I go through phases with liking it-I just had about a one year phase of hating it, while waiting for my cycles to resume after Brennan was born. (Yes, an entire year later!) I hated NFP during that time because charting was quite complicated and signs of fertility obscure. I can't do complicated and obscure when it comes to the thought of having another baby right after delivering one, if you know what I mean. I wasn't quite "myself", let's say, but I'm hopeful for things to feel normal again (and more positive over all).
Back to my post here-
I just read an excellent post regarding NFP. I enjoyed this post because I think it may offer some clarification on the fallacy out there that NFP means Catholic couples are obliged to have baby after baby after baby, so long until the mother hits menopause. God knows that if that was the truth, I would not be Catholic. Click here to read the post over at As Many as We're Given. Kudos to her for sharing with us and writing such a great piece.
And in case any of you missed it-Jen also made a great NFP post recently, too. That one was more energizing for me on a personal level, since I've known this girl since the 6th grade. ;) Thankfully we've come a long way.
Last but not least, I just learned of the NFP Carnival going on-click here for details. I may add in one of my prior posts. I'm still thinking about this one.
Alright, now exit my blog and go check out one of those links! Go on...outta here! (then come back and tell me what you think:)
9 comments:
Hey! I went over and read the NFP post! Thanks for the referral--I can always use some good NFP news to boost me on the tough days--I hate that mu cm cycle is way waaaay too long, but thanks to NFP, I also know WHY it's happening--Let's finish our discussion on this soon if we have time :o)
Thanks for sharing this. I am headed over to check out those links in a minute!
Hey, I was gonna make an NFP blog a couple of days ago! I had just read an article in Parents magazine about different forms of birth control, obviously completely ignoring NFP.
My captcha is jueeptah. Fun to say!
Thanks for linking to my post. I'm so glad it has spoken to other people and is also not totally confusing. :)
I checked out the carnival, I want to read some of the posts other people posted about though and haven't gotten the chance yet.
Stacey.. isn't that the way it goes? Completely ignorning NFP? When I was in school.. my OB instructor had the guts to say how it doesn't work (like she knew - she kept a bowl of condoms on her counter for her kids to take as they went out the door- what kind of mother is THAT?) and totally down playing it. I was actually in my NFP class at the time and was like "no it works if you know what your doing." It really irks me. Grr!
NFP (and I speak personally for the Creighton Method b/c that's what I use) isn't THAT big a deal--It irks me me when people make it out to be this weird, "out there" concept--I used to do that, too, but then I got educated. The purpose of getting educated was mainly to challenge the Catholic church, but I was surprised to find out how amazing NFP really is. My main desire right now is to just put the word out there--Challenge more people (Catholic and not) to learn NFP and try it--if not as a birth spacer, than as a fertility tracker, marriage enhancer, faith "deepener" :oD--whatever. I am trying to talk the local catholic Radio station (it is on EWTN radio, but is broadcast from here--my bro is a co-host of the young adult show at 9 pm thurs.) to pick up NFP as a show topic. The host is afraid that the topic might not be appropriate for a young audience, but I feel the opposite. We can talk to kids about chastity...why not go deeper and teach them to respect their bodies and learn about what's going on "in there"? If we teach people before they get married, then it's a habit before you ever even need it. Okay, okay, I am rambling on too long here--It might take another blog post to cover all of this--lol! Anyways, NFP is sometimes difficult for some people, but it really is great! Don't knock it til you try it...or at least learn what it is from someone who knows what they're talking about. :oD
Jenn,
I think it's something young people NEED to know about as young adults. What's wrong with understanding our body? Realizing what are bodies are truly made to do and be. You need to treat it that way -- when do you start? When a child/adolescent/young adult whatever has already been caught up in the worldy view of it all? Teach them young! I completely agree on teaching people before they get married. That's how I learned it -- and I was very fortunate to have a very open family about these things. However, I didn't learn NFP from my parents. I truly believe that kids aren't getting enough education on these sorts of things and sex is considered "BAD" when it's not -- it has to be used according to God's plan. Sorry getting off track here a bit. I too think that NFP should be educated better by EVERYONE not just Catholics. Many birth controls to me are dangerous and too easily able to abort a child.
I truly hope you are able to go on this show and make a difference. Keep us updated.
Andrea (and whoever else doesn't mind us going off on a tangent--lol): I have three main points to use for persuading Stephanie to let us go on the air about this one night--The first is coming from a spiritual standpoint...If people learn from a younger age to value/respect their sexuality-if they have a more spiritual connection with their sexuality from a younger age (rather than to just tell them "sex is bad, mmmkaaaaay?"), they might be more likely to remain celibate until marriage--(and when they get married, there won't be these arguments of should we-shouldn't we use/trust NFP--or "I believe in it" "I don't" issues. It will already have been in action.) This brings me to my second point which is BC. So many young girls are encouraged by their doctors to use birth control pills to regulate hormones or fix cycle issues or treat PMS--This causes a snowballing of problems (health-wise and morally speaking)--Teaching girls to track their own cycles enables these girls to realize that most of what goes on in their bodies is normal and natural (something it took me until this year to learn, thanks to my doctors!!). It enables them to fix problems that would otherwise go unnoticed. It can detect SPECIFIC hormonal deficiencies and imbalances so that they can be targeted and fixed. And best of all, it keeps the dangerous Pill away from our youth (and I personally believe that if girls aren't on the Pill for other reasons, they might be less likely to feel free to have sex)...Finally (sorry so long), I'd like to point out that more and more women are turning up with cervical cancer each year--so much so that they have developed a vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer--This disease as well as a host of other reproductive diseases and disorders can be detected by charting cycles--Wouldn't it be nice to detect abnormalities EARLIER and also create a "baseline" pattern of cycles for a young girl to go by? I wish I had years and years of charts to compare--It is so helpful to have these! Beyond this, there are bonding benefits using this in a marriage, but I really think it's important to put the word out there for young people who are not yet married, still fighting the battle for celibacy and sexual health BEFORE other problems/circumstances arise. We talk about condoms and birth control pills and celibacy--why is THIS taboo? And why is monitoring fertility and female reproductive health so looked down upon? It's so irritating and ignorant. Okay, I'm done :o) (Sorry Sharon, for hogging space!!!)
Jenn,
I think your points are GREAT and I agree with you 100% on everything you said. You have no idea how strongly I believe in everything you wrote. I have talked of this many times with my FAMILIA group and my family. I agree too about NFP and knowing our bodies is taboo but sex and everything about it is EVERYWHERE. I won't hog anymore space Sharon (with this comment) but I'm so proud of you Jen trying to get the word out there! *hugs*
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