We all do it. That thing. Secretly judge and swear not to be that mom. You know what I’m talking about. It’s not hard to look at someone else and say, “What the heck?” And it’s definitely not hard to know better than to do what they do.
You know that mom who practically goes in debt for childcare because those other schools just aren’t good enough for Baby Einstein status.
You know that mom who will shove the closest snack or technology gadget in her kid’s face just so they’ll be quiet and stop being… a kid.
You know that mom who truly believes modern medicine is the end of the world and all natural is the only way to go.
You know that mom who shows up to an outdoor winter event with her kid in shorts and a short-sleeved tee.
You know that mom who sheds all her baby weight one month postpartum and then publicly shares her #mombod journey to “inspire” the rest of us.
You know that mom who posts daily adventures of her and her kid, while we’re at home feeling like extra unadventurous moms.
You know that mom who complains about not sleeping through the night but refuses to ever let her kid self-soothe or cry one second of peep.
You know that mom who brings her kids over and lets them run all over your house without the slightest mention of, “Please do not jump on the couch.”
You know that mom who has every outfit and photo opp perfectly planned and lined up for the next holiday or milestone.
You know that mom who spoils her child rotten and then wonders why her child is so spoiled.
I know you know that mom. I’ve seen that mom – and lots more moms – and have probably said “not me” once or twice while observing whatever they do. So when my husband called me out a brewery one day for letting my kid stack rocks on the bench of a nearby friendly picnic table, with no attempt to intervene or a single thought about how that might actually be annoying to them, I suddenly realized, “Oh no! I’m that mom too.”
I’m that mom who brought homemade chocolate-covered strawberries and DIY cards to the daycare Valentine’s party when everyone else went straight up store-bought.
I’m that mom who pulls her phone out to capture every moment and memory and will take 100 photos just to get “the right one.”
I’m that mom who then unforgivingly shares those moments and memories to my Instagram stories for others to share in the moment too.
I’m that mom who tries to be easy-going but totally had a fear-of-choking response when someone gave my son ice.
I’m that mom who showered and put on makeup in the hospital four hours after birth while my son was off to the nursery.
I’m that mom who lets her kid explore and test the limits – sometimes questionably so – for the sake of “creative freedom.”
I’m that mom who snubs the idea of giving babies apple juice or rice cereal.
I’m that mom who is always on-the-go, into something, with minimal bones in my body to just relax and take it slow.
I’m that mom who 100% maxes out family babysitting time so I can do the things that I want to do.
I’m that mom who is relentless about sleep, can spot the smallest signs of being tired, and consistently puts her child to bed at 7:00 pm.
So the next time you’re judging that mom for some parenting quirk of hers, just remember, to someone else, you’re that mom too.
