Breast is Best....but you better keep it covered in public
Your partner can share in the bonding of feeding with formula...but your babe will not have a strong immunity
Cry it out will get you some sleep...but your child will never trust you again
Co-sleep will get you some sleep...but you are raising dependent adults
Time-outs might work...but you are taking your love away from your child as a form of punishment
Explaining the situation might work...but you are now raising a spoiled brat
Spanking might work...but you are abusing your child
You wear your baby...but you will never get a moment rest and they will never learn to self sooth
You use a stroller and swing...but you are depriving your baby of their needs during the 4th trimester and impacting their brain development
You are on your i-phone at the park...but you miss out on all the little moment of your child's life
You are on your i-phone at the park...but you don't lose your shit later that day as you had a chance to laugh with friends even if electronically
A natural home water birth with a midwife is what you choose...but you are a hippy putting your child's life in danger
A hospital birth with an epidural is what you choose...but you are a whimp and will never experience 'true' birth
You use disposable diapers...but you hate the environment
You use cloth diapers...but you are gross putting poop in your washing machine
You stay at home....but don't contribute to the household
You work for money....but don't love your kids enough to be home with them
DID I MISS WHERE MY KIDS CAME WITH THEIR MANUEL?!?!?!?!
I know parts are a bit blurry of the birth but I'm pretty sure I didn't deliver a book after either of my boys were born. WHY? Because kids do not come with a manuel. Why? Because there is no RIGHT way or WRONG way (other then the obvious but lets not go there) way to raise your kids.
I am a natural birth, breastfeeding, don't know how to use my phone, cloth diapering, try different disciplines until something works, co-sleeper who is willing to let them cry sometimes Momma. And I make no apologizes because I am doing the best that I can do.
I am doing it RIGHT! Right for me. Right for my boys. And YOU, you are doing it RIGHT. Right for you. Right for your kids.
I have never asked the Parent Police to comment on my parenting. Didn't your mother not teach you that "if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all!"? So please don't feel you have an obligation to tell me what I'm doing wrong unless I ask for your opinion. I will ask if I want it.
I have asked so many mommas for help and ideas and tips and solutions. I believe that motherhood was meant to be a collective where we all help each other out instead of tare each other down. I ask my mom friends at work how they manage with two kids. I ask the moms at the park if time-outs work for them. I ask the mom shopping for apples beside me how she keeps her toddler from running through the grocery store (thanks for the tip). I ask all my facebook world what to do about a toddler who whines all the time.
I know so many wonderful mother who approach motherhood the same, similarily and the complete opposite to me. They are all wonderful mothers because they are working their respective butts off for their kids. So why is it that it seems motherhood is a battle instead of a collective support system?
Next time you see a mother doing a bang out awesome job...let her know. It might just help balance out that person that tore he down yesterday.
PS: And a big THANK-YOU to all the women who have commented and said I was "doing a good job", "it was great to see you counting pears with your son", "he is so well behaved", "oh you use cloth diapers too I loved them", "a water birth that is so neat". Thanks for the support!
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