Dr. Elliott Barker, founder of the Canadian Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and currently an adolescent psychiatrist for the Ontario Ministry of Health states: ‘What can I say. It's all there. If and when consumerism dies people will be able to see the wisdom of Peter's book. Until then, mothers and fathers will continue to delude themselves with rationalizations to support part time orphanages for their very young children - to the detriment, if not demise, of generations to come.’
Says Steve Biddulph about this book:
"Just recently, with the growth of technologies that can look inside the living brain, and videocameras that can watch the tiny movements and gestures of mothers and infants, we have realized that in our basic assumptions of Western industrial life, we were terribly wrong about something very important. We thought that minding babies was a casual, inconsequential thing that could be left to underpaid teenagers, or done in bulk with one person to five babies or ten toddlers, without any problem.
It now appears that mother-baby interaction, in the first year especially, is the very foundation of human emotions and intelligence. In the most essential terms, love grows the brain. The capacities for what make us most human—empathy, co-operation, intimacy, the fine timing and sensitivity that makes a human being charismatic, loving, and self-assured— are passed from mother to baby, especially if that mother is herself possessed of these qualities, and supported and cared for, so that she can bring herself to enjoy and focus on the task.
Just as we were wrong, in our industrial culture, about almost everything related to sustainable and happy living on this earth, we were wrong about childhood...."
Here’s is Peter Cook’s own request for distribution of the book free on the net.
"The attached document is a pdf of my new book, Mothering Denied – How our culture harms women, infants and society, (as updated to Dec 5, 2008). I decided to self-publish it and make it freely available at no cost, via the net, and anyone may pass it on to anyone else, as they wish.
I do not intend to publish a normal soft-back edition, but if anyone wishes to do so, I shall be glad if they contact me. Likewise, if there are any errors, I would be glad to know of them (but this does not claim to be a conventionally “balanced” presentation). It is fitting that, as we enter 2009, it presents: firstly, what follows from a biological, evolutionary perspective on mothering, and then much other converging evidence from different directions; secondly, it discusses under what conditions departures from the natural, best-fit, pattern of human mothering has adverse health and developmental consequences; and thirdly, what we could do about it.
While fully in accord with Early Years Study 2, it goes beyond it, and I think that far too much money and attention is being devoted to the early ‘education’ parts of modern evidence, to the eclipse of the more basic and important early mothering, that is fundamental in laying good foundations for future physical and emotional health and wellbeing, as well as for forming a good basis for later academic achievement.
As most people have little time to read most of what is published, this book has a Synopsis of 1170 words at the beginning, and a longer Summary of 3250 words near the end. In between is a fully referenced Main Text of 41.750 words. These are followed by ten Notes and a detailed list of references. So it is not a long book, it’s language is as simple as the topic at the time will allow, and its evidence and conclusions are meant to be easily available to readers in however much time they choose to give it. So far as I know this book is unique, and I hope timely.
The book has been edited to American style, but this attached pdf is designed to become an A4-size book of 115 pages using both sides of 58 sheets of A4 paper. Anyone can print it out, but I have found that Office Works do it well on A4 bond paper for $22.50 per single bound copy, with a firm maroon backing and a clear plastic front cover. The rate comes down for multiple copies. There is a one-off charge of $5.45 to load the printer from a memory stick. A version for printing on US letter-size paper will become available early next year.
For those who do not even have time to open the attached document, I append an Abstract. (Why is everyone busier than ever, these days?)
Abstract
Although the word ‘mothering’ has become politically incorrect, five complementary lines of evidence now converge to show that there is a natural, biologically-based, best-fit pattern of human mothering, and it includes breastfeeding, carrying, secure attachment, mutual rewards, enjoyment, and empathy—meaning a mother’s sensitivity to her baby’s feelings and responding accordingly. Mutual playfulness and joy help to sustain healthy development if the environment is supportive and meets basic human needs. These five independent lines of evidence are described in five chapters in Part one. (This is a form of triangulation.)
Part two outlines how and when disturbed development can arise if departures from natural patterns of mothering create environments that fail to match the biologically-based needs of babies and very young children. Such ‘eco-genetic mismatch’ can disrupt important biological mechanisms that are based in the human genome. It can be especially harmful when it occurs during pregnancy, childbirth, and early childhood. It can stem from actions that derive from teachings and practices that neglect human needs, and from ignorance and ideologies that are misconceived.
Part three outlines some remedial directions towards more healthy families and societies. To improve physical, emotional and mental health it is urgent to distinguish the needs of children nearer school age from those of infants—defined as ‘without speech.’ Their primary need is for nurturing early mothering, within supportive and sociable environments.
We should aim to bring our society—that we can change—into better harmony with our biological ‘givens’ that we cannot change and would therefore do well to accept. This involves supporting healthy mothering, breastfeeding, and attachment, with generous maternity leave. Natural patterns of mothering work best with the support of a father and an extended family and/or social group, within a suitable environment. There are models we could follow that offer many benefits—even for ‘the economy’. It is necessary to work with Nature and not against her to promote health and wellbeing in young children, their mothers, and society. Prevention is better than cure, and a normal mother-child relationship is a love affair that needs the right conditions to flourish. Infancy cannot be re-run later.
Sincerely,
Peter S. Cook
You can download the book here.