Bear, Alicia Silverstone’s preteen son, still shares a bed with his mother, according to the actress. The close relationship between Silverstone and her son is evident in her Instagram posts. While some have had mixed reactions to her parenting style, the majority applaud and support her for paving the way in being more expressive and forming a close relationship with her child. The “Clueless” actor claims she is simply adhering to what nature has always taught us. “I’m a natural mama, and I’m a loving mama. I believe in love and nature, but our culture is afraid of nature and love,” she stated on The Ellen Fisher Podcast.
Silverstone addressed the comments of those attempting to mom-shame her for her unconventional parenting of her 11-year-old son, whom she shares with her ex-husband Christopher Jarecki. Ellen Fisher described Alicia as someone who “is happy for people to think what they want about how she’s raising her child, even if it raises eyebrows because her alternative parenting techniques work for her family. Which included co-sleeping, elimination communication, her son Bear’s long hair, teaching him to question everything he’s told, raising him vegan, and not punishing him.”
The actress has been criticized for her “attachment parenting” style, but she explains that it fosters independence in her children as they grow older. “Every choice I make is either based on instinct or deep research,” she said, before adding that she doesn’t want to raise her kid in any other way. “I just think it’s delicious. I think being a mom is the most precious, most unbelievable experience in this world, and it’s not for everyone, and anyone who doesn’t want to do it shouldn’t do it, but for me, it’s so divine, and I wanted to savor every moment of his life,” she said.
When asked about her unconventional parenting style, she responded, “The things I’m doing I’m not inventing. I didn’t invent any of it. It’s just me following nature. Bear and I still sleep together. If you were in any kind of wild setting where there are animals if you put your baby over there, your baby is going to get eaten, so it’s not ideal for your baby to be over there.” The actor added, “Well, if I were sleeping outside in a tent, I wouldn’t put him in a separate tent.”
Alicia Silverstone is not unfamiliar with deviating from the norm. She has been ridiculed for taking an unconventional path for a very long time, but that has never stopped her from being herself. She was also one of the first Hollywood celebrities to become vegan, and she did so well before the concept became popular. Critics criticized a number of her parenting decisions, including Bear’s food-chewing, infant potty training, allowing her son to have long hair, and co-sleeping. Bear was very “macrobiotic,” so she introduced him to sugar and other processed foods only much later. Silverstone believes she has provided him with a solid foundation, and he can now discern the difference as he explores food on his own and makes his own decisions.
Many praised Silverstone’s parenting decisions and wished they had such a close relationship with their own children.
“You don’t belong in the American culture of parenting Alicia.😄 If you ever wonder about your parenting ways, just remember there is at least one country in this world with mothers who do exactly what you’re doing. And unpleasant behavioral issues are almost unheard of. I’ve lived both here in the US and there, and my gosh, I chose to do my mothering the same as in my culture. No issues at all. The standards here are the way they are because most women don’t know any better. Not their fault though,” wrote one user.
According to experts, there is no problem with Silverstone sleeping with her son. Dr. Rebecca Fisk, a pediatrician at Lenox Hill Hospital at Northwell Health in New York, told Yahoo News: “I have always told parents that sharing a bed with your child is a personal decision, not a medical decision,” said Dr. According to licensed clinical psychologist Elizabeth Matheis, everyone has their own parenting style. Elizabeth Matheis, a clinical psychologist at Psychological and Educational Consulting, LLC in Livingston, New Jersey, stated, “We all come from different backgrounds and the rules, or parenting guidelines, vary greatly — it’s what works for you and your family,”