This topic is timely because it's rare that I question my parenting choices. Whatever we screw up will be resolved by therapy.
Just this week I read the book "I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids." I hated it. I blogged about the authors' new book last month and was happy to borrow this one from a friend. There was every reason to like it. I'm an involved parent. It's my job to raise smart, socially conscious children. But this book just rubbed me the wrong way. I tend not to whine about this stuff or give it so much thought. I'm sure the authors wrote it to reassure women that they are not alone. Yes, there is a lot to motherhood. Still, if I thought about it too much I'd freak out about the huge responsibility it is and lose whatever's left of my sanity.
Here's a list of some of the issues that mothers today struggle over:
- Organic vs non organic
- TV vs no TV
- Potty train at two vs potty train at three
- Barbies and guns vs no Barbies and guns
- Work vs stay home
- Music class vs gymnastics class vs no class
Until 18 months ago Dave traveled 75% for work. It was just the way things were. We had three kids and I was the mom. Now that he doesn't travel for work we share in parenting duties fairly equally; I appreciate it because those early years were pretty busy!
The only part of the book I liked was the Dirty Little Secrets. Here are a few gems:
- I tell my daughter, "You are only two years old. It says right here on the package that you can only have two cookies."
- I tell lies. Soccer's been canceled; we can't go. Or, the pool's not open; we can't go.
- I want my own apartment because I don't like people touching my stuff.
- Sometimes I think, "I can't believe I gave up nine months of drinking for this."
3 comments:
You only questioned one parenting decision? I think I have questioned at least 10 this week alone! This teenage thing is tough!
Thank you so much for the review. I finally watched the oprah show and thought those moms were such whiners! anything fantastic in life is difficult.
Totally going to use that "says on the package" trick.
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