I am honored to be continuing my sponsored relationship with Similac in order to foster parental support and help to #endmommywars. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’ll admit, before I was a parent, I judged. SOmetimes, even after having two kids, I find myself falling into old habits. Just this week, I saw a little girl at the clothing store with her mom. She was around 4 or 5 years old, with no underpants, a messy face and what appeared to be candy foil in her tangled curls as she pulled and broke a costume sheriff hat her mother had just bought, and I had to pause. Yes, on the outside, this was a rough-looking situation. But instead of wondering why that mother couldn’t “get her act together,” I thought about what they might be battling that day. Maybe potty training was difficult and underwear just got in the way. Maybe they lost a hairbrush, or the foil-wrapped candy chocolates were earned after a brave vaccination session.
I’m getting much better about not taking a situation at face value and instead being kind to everyone I meet… because who knows what battles they are fighting in that moment. With all this judgement and uncertainty floating around, it can be a little daunting to be a parent. I got to watch a new documentary snippet featuring six new moms as they experience parenthood and it’s trials last week, and instantly felt a sense of camaraderie and relief. These parents were getting judged, too. It’s all of us against each other, when it really should be all of us FOR each other.
The award-winning director of the film, Cynthia Wade (also a mom!), follows these new moms as they make decisions, each one facing criticism; being a single mother, pumping at work, bottle-feeding or issues that come along with having multiples. I was absolutely riveted and hated when the preview ended. I HAD to see the entire film, and fast.
These moms were experiencing the same things I was. I felt for them as they toughed through their day, because being a parent is HARD!! What are some of the hardest things you’ve experienced as a parent? Be sure to watch the film below and share your stories at endmommywars.com.
I am incredibly proud to be a Partner of the Sisterhood of Motherhood with Similac, and they generously sponsored my discussion starter. The Sisterhood of Motherhood believes it’s time to embrace parents who choose to embrace parenthood, because no two of us are the same, and we’re all in this together. We need to nourish each other the same way we nourish our kids. The Sisterhood (all of us!) is there to help you get through the first few days and months of motherhood with confidence — and zero judgment. And I firmly believe that’s way it should be.
I love this and I love this campaign. I am constantly checking myself and knowing that there is always more to a story than what we are seeing. And, in the event of a meltdown or something going on, seeing if there is a way I can help the mom because we need to be a community.
A video was circulating on facebook of a girl (about 4) throwing a tantrum in what looked like a shoe store. The mother in the video ignored the girl’s behavior and didn’t give the child what she wanted. I read the comments to the video and most of them were saying what a terrible mom she was because she didn’t beat the child to get her to behave.
I thought two things (really, I thought more than that but I’ll share two) 1. I thought the mom showed incredible patience by not spanking the child and not giving her what she wanted. I applaud her and truly hope that things get better
2. These videos are such horrible violations, shared without the permission of the parties involved. That is the last one I will ever watch.
We could all use a little patience and understanding sometimes
I LOVE this video. I am sometimes quick to judge too. But one thing that parenting teaches us is that everything is unknown. You never know what mood your children will wake up in. You never know what another family is going through. Try to keep your judgement at bay!
I love this video. I’m still wiping the tears away.
It’s great when we can give another mom a hand. I always try to say a kind word to that mom in Target or the grocery store struggling because I can’t tell you how many times that’s been me. 🙂
ow thats make me home sick. i miss my mom.. 🙁