Parenting Woes...

I'm a bad parent. "No, Jen, not you..." Yes me... Why you ask, oh because I choose to limit my child's sugar intake, because I choose to discipline him when he misbehaves, because I want him to eat more fruits and veggies than processed foods/fast foods, because I give him Motrin when he has a fever, because I had him circumcised, because I had him vaccinated, and so on and so on.... {insert sarcasm font}

Motherhood is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced, however, one thing that I have noticed is how catty and passive aggressive other moms can get. I belong to an online parenting board that is comprised of other women who became moms the same time I did. When I joined it, I thought "Great! I can share stories and get tips and such!" Umm, not so much. At first they were all like "Oh, yay, we're pregnant!" then it soon became "What? You're not going to co-sleep? Your child is going to feel unloved and insecure." "What? You aren't going to chew up your baby's food first and feed it like a little bird? Your child is going to choke!" Seriously?? I don't care how you raise your child (as long as you aren't beating him/her), why would you judge me and my choices? "Oh my gosh, you're going back to work? Your son's going to have abandonment issues." Um, no he's going to have food on the table, clothes on his back and a roof over his head.

Why is it that everyone else knows the best way to raise your kid? The one thing that I have learned since having a child is that every decision (no matter how big or small) that I make for Moose is wrong in someones mind. There are such varying opinions on every subject and everyone feels so strongly about their own, why can't we just let parents choose for themselves?

My hubby and chose the, get this, "cry it out method". "Oh, no she didn't *snap*! Don't she know that's abuse?" (yes, I realize the grammar choices I made in that quote, and just so you know, I wrote it in the best ghetto accent I have as well). Ummm, no it wasn't abuse, at least not in our case. Moose only had to do it once or twice and he has never had a problem since. Anyone who knows Moose, knows that he is a very well adjusted 3 & 1/2 year old. We also gave him a pacie and he wasn't exclusively breastfed. Oh no, call DCFS before something terrible happens!

My point it, opinions are great, but not when the only reason they are voiced is to make someone else feel like less of a person. I may not agree with all of your parenting choices, but guess what? It doesn't matter, because YOU are the parent and you have the right to those choices.

So, in conclusion, circumcise or don't, co-sleep or don't, wear your baby or don't, breastfeed or don't, vaccinate or don't, spank or don't, feed your baby like a bird or don't, I won't judge you so please don't judge me.

At least you aren't this guy... I mean really, look at that mullet, that little boy has no chance... ;)

Disclaimer: I don't know who these people are, I found the pic on google.

to the moon and back,

Oh, you just wait...

So, I took Moose to get a hair cut today (he was blessed with my thick head of hair) and we were standing the waiting area when Moose said "Hi" to a woman sitting there.

She replied "Hi, how are you?"

"Uh, Nick cut-a hair" he said while rubbing his hand through his shaggy brown hair.

"Oh, my he's so cute! I have a 4 year old at home, well almost 4. He's 3 he'll be 4 in December." (Um... December? That's like 3 months away, that's not almost 4, that's a little over 3 1/2. Moose will be 2 in 12 days and I still tell people he's 1, I don't want to age him one single day!)

I said "Thank you. He will be 2 in a few days."

"Oh," she said "He's big, like my son. So you haven't gone through the whole "terrible twos" or threes, yet, huh?"

I, (politely, mind you) replied "Well, so far he has been a really good baby. I haven't had much to deal with, it's been nice."

Almost angrily, she stated, "Yea, I thought mine was too, (snicker) that all changed. You just wait."

Ok, first off, I'm sorry you are raising a little hellion, but that doesn't mean that every child out there is doomed to be a little brat. Secondly, I didn't ask for your opinion, why would I? I don't even know you. If I wanted advice, I would go to my trusted friends and family, not a random stranger in a hair salon. Thirdly, why would you want to ruin my moment? Maybe Moose will turn out to be a holy terror (heaven forbid!), but if that's the case, why not let me live in the moment? Why do you feel it's your duty to warn me of my impending doom?

Thanks for your attempt at a PSA, but no thanks. I will ignore you "breeders of negativity"... I will relish these moments where my son is my perfect little angel!