Everyday I see so much controversy on parenting. Especially motherhood!
It is so frustrating to see all the hate because someone bottle feeds when YOU say breast is best. Sure, breast is the way to go if thats what YOU want to do, but it is in no way making you a bad mom! Sometimes mothers aren't physically able to breastfeed, or their baby isn't. Sometimes a mother does everything she possibly can to keep her supply up, but like my son, weans himself off and you lose your supply. Breast is not "best", fed is!
Some moms are all for attachment parenting, all organic everything, non-forward facing until teenage years, exclusive breastfeeding till 5, and co-sleeping till their kids move out. And guess what, that's fine. Whatever works for you and your child, by all means you whip that boob out at the park and don't give a damn what anyone says! Other mom's choose the cry-it-out method, which by experience works after a couple days of not only your baby crying, but you as a mother sitting outside the door crying even harder because, yes, it is painful to hear your baby cry. But, guess what? Crying won't hurt them, and if you want your babe to sleep through the night and not taking up the bed in between you and your significant other till he or she is 12, then those 2 or 3 days are worth it. Does that make you a bad mom, no it makes you a strong mom just like the other mom who chooses to share a bed.
Just like everyone is different, whether it be your size in height and weight, the color of your hair, the way you dress and speak, the way we parent will be very different. If someone isn't physically asking for your opinion or asking for your two sense, what makes you think you can give it, or bash someone for not covering their child's head when they want to eat? Don't go to other moms saying you should or shouldn't do something just because the way they parent is different from you. No one is perfect, especially when you become a parent because you are no longer responsible for yourself. I'm responsible for 2 other human beings now, 3 if you count my husband. I don't know about you, but that's hard work! I make at least 20 mistakes in one day as a mom, but guess what, by the end of the day I don't bash myself for not being perfect. My kids are healthy, happy, sometimes cranky with bad attitudes, have a roof over their heads, a bed to sleep in, and clothes on their back (most of the time they prefer to be naked). Who cares if all they would eat for dinner that night was a french fry and chocolate milk instead of that organic gourmet meal you saw that other mom post a picture of on instagram. That doesn't make you any less of a mother. It just makes you different, and if it works for your family, then you are doing it right! Sure you might look back and wish you did things differently, but there is no point in dwelling on the past when you can look towards the future and be happy that God granted you the gift of being a parent in the first place. So many people in the world don't get that opportunity.
So the next time you are about to type or say a hateful comment because someone is parenting differently than you, take a step back and just be grateful. Grateful that you have a healthy child, grateful that God gave us free will to parent however we want. Formula feed or breast feed. Forward face till 5 or don't. Co-sleep, baby wear, make your own baby food, or don't. That's up to you. You are different. You are unique. Your kids will not love you any less because you chose to parent differently than his neighbor friends mom. The only thing we all have in common is that we are moms, and it doesn't get better than that.
Sincerely, the mom who breast fed, formula fed, baby wore, co-slept & did the cry it out method, forward faced, and rear faced, sometimes allows child to drink the pickle juice because he wanted to.
0 comments