The Baby Training Pandemic

I was reading a post online today from a mom who was having trouble getting her 18 month old son to bed. She said that she used to lay down with him until he fell asleep, but now he is dragging out the bed-time process for up to 2 hours. The mom wanted help with this, but (thank goodness) didn't feel good about letting him "cry it out". The following replies from the other moms who gave their advise on how to "help" with this "problem" just blew me away. Every single answer had something to do with either following a protocol invented by some Dr. who wrote a book on the method required to get your child to sleep, an awful "tough love" approach of some kind, or some other way of "training" the child to go to bed on time. Oh, and most importantly, to go to bed by himself, in his own room, and sleep all night. Because Lord knows, if your kid doesn't sleep through the night, he is destined to rule the lives of his parents and the parents have failed by not having a kid who is on a tight schedule with no complaints. It's exasperating.
The undue stress parents place on themselves to make their children do what they are "supposed" to do, because society and their mother-in-law told them it's what's right, is overwhelming and unnecessary. Any attached parent knows how ridiculous it is and how much waisted energy it entails. Moms and dads ignore the aches in their hearts while their babies cry to be held because they are told that their child will be spoiled and will ALWAYS want to be held if they give in now. For one, it's not true. For two (as far as holding your baby goes), is that so bad??? In no time, that same baby will be running full speed ahead into the adventure of life, and those same parents will terribly miss that tiny, totally dependent bundle that was once in their arms. Every baby who is loved and held all the time (and I do mean all the time, like in a baby sling strapped to mom's hip!) will grow up quite independent and confident. Every baby who is picked up whenever they cry will NOT become spoiled. Every baby who sleeps snug and safe with their parents each night will NOT turn into a clingy Mama's boy (or whatever ignorant phrase you have). Every baby who is allowed to nurse on demand because he is hungry or just needs comfort will NOT want to nurse forever and be impossible to wean.
All of these feared traits that American society has deemed intolerable in their children are actually prevented by giving all the things that this same society deprives their children of--attachment parenting. Push a child into independence straight out of the womb, and you will find an insecure child growing up. Perhaps he'll have a "blankie" or a "lovie" or some other ridiculous artificial "transition" item that took the place of human comfort. You will not see a child who was brought up in a house with attachment parenting holding onto a treasured stuffed bear that is filthy because he can't stand the thought of parting with it long enough for it to go in the wash. You will NOT.
Child rearing in America is thought of as a job; as work. Yes, it can be quite hard work raising children, to say the least. But hard work has amazing outcomes and lots of satisfaction to go along with it. A "job" and "work" implies that parenthood is an ongoing chore that must be endured.
I often wonder why parents, such as the ones I'm describing, try so desperately to have children in the first place. Why do they want that baby so bad? As soon as the baby is born, he's put on a schedule for feeding and sleeping, and he's taught at a young age that crying may or may not get him what he needs. Those parents who wanted him so much are turning a deaf ear to his cries because it's in his "best interest" to learn that he cannot "have his way" or manipulate the people who he depends on to care for him. He is trained to sleep in an empty crib, on his back, in the dark; the familiar feeling of warmth from his mother's body is down the hall in another room. He doesn't hear her breathing, does not smell her scent, or feel the security of being held close. The baby's natural responses to hunger, fear, and the need to be held are stifled to suit the convenience of the parents. All this he must endure immediately after birth! Imagine going from the security of your warm bed, in your familiar house, to lying on a stone bench in the middle of a cemetery. An extreme analogy, I know. But truly, imagine going from the womb to a crib---all by yourself. Oh, and you have no way of escaping except to cry. Unless, of course, your parents were told it was in your best interest to not run and pick you up every time you asked.
It is work when you go about parenting that way. It's a constant battle attempting to mold a unique and individual child with a one-size-fits-all approach.
I guess that's all the ranting I'll do today. I was about to get into a whole other area regarding the government imposed public school system and it's unlimited flaws, but I'll save that for another day.
Thanks to all who "listened" and thanks to all who put in the extra effort (and obtain the infinite rewards) that come with being attached parents. I appreciate you all, the minority that we are.