I guess you could say that I don't really fit into a certain 'group' when it comes to mom life.
I'm the mom wearing a Twins shirt and Wonder Woman Converse who plays on the playground equipment instead of sitting on the bench in matchy matchy clothes and chatting with the other moms.
I'm the mom who picks up two straws at McDonald's and puts them in her mouth and says, "Look, I'm a walrus!" while the teens roll their eyes and go back to their Instagramming.
My kids don't eat organic. I don't homeschool. By no means am I cutting down anyone else here. I breastfed, I used cloth diapers, and I coslept. But homeschooling? So not for me. I know some that do. And they're amazing for it.
I'm the 40 yr old mom who rocks out to One Direction in the car even when her kids AREN'T around.
I'm the mom wearing a Twins shirt and Wonder Woman Converse who plays on the playground equipment instead of sitting on the bench in matchy matchy clothes and chatting with the other moms.
I'm the mom who picks up two straws at McDonald's and puts them in her mouth and says, "Look, I'm a walrus!" while the teens roll their eyes and go back to their Instagramming.
My kids don't eat organic. I don't homeschool. By no means am I cutting down anyone else here. I breastfed, I used cloth diapers, and I coslept. But homeschooling? So not for me. I know some that do. And they're amazing for it.
I vaccinate.
We wear sunscreen.
We watch Jaws. Sometimes I swear. In front of them.
I dance in public to embarrass them.
I wear my hair in braids.
When we pick movies, I try to talk them into watching Big Hero 6 instead of something like Die Hard.
I play video games.
I watch baseball, and yell at the tv.
I wear jeans, tshirts, and Converse more than anything else. I don't (well, rarely) dress up.
I don't wear makeup.
My kids never went to preschool.
I never organized play dates for them. I'd have mom friends over, and while the kids played outside (or inside, "hey, anyone know where the kids went?) we'd play Just Dance or watch Smallville. And snacks? Chips and pop!
They don't do classes at the Community Center, and never have.
They'd walk in crying and bleeding from outside, and I'd ask them, "Were you messing around and doing something you shouldn't have been doing? Yes? Well, now you know better." A kiss and a hug and a band aid later and they're back outside.
Don't get me wrong, I love my kids to death. I'd do anything for them. I just don't care what others think about my parenting. "You went to Burger King again?" Yes. Yes, we did. And unless we fed YOUR kids, don't get on me about mine.
I've been seeing more and more parents slamming each other for choices they make regarding their kids. If I have your kid over to my house and I'm dropping the F bomb a million times and force feeding him Mt Dew, then you can get mad at me.
However, I also take them to church. I teach them manners. Jacob doesn't always get a free pass with the Autism, but sometimes he does.
My 17 yr old loves playing Legos and playing "fight" (lightsabers and various Avengers weapons) with his 9 yr old cousin.
They'll curl up with books before bed and snuggle with me while we all read.
I'm working on raising them to be good humans, with morals, manners, etc. Sometimes they'll fail. (Heck, we ALL fail from time to time.)
I think the most important thing that parents need to remember is that if we're trying our best, that should be good enough for everyone else.
