The NOT Mommy Wars Story #UniteMonday

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.

This is my NOT Mommy Wars story. I’ve had plenty of uninvited advice, comments or straight up rudeness regarding raising kids, but this weekend was awesome; it was united parenting all around:

There was a day, before I had kids, when I vowed never to let them watch too much TV.  That television was not a babysitter.  The boob tube was only for partial entertainment, and when my child was allowed to watch, it would only be the most educational of shows.  

Then I actually had some kids…  

And my crazy up-tight standards relaxed.  

Yes,  I am mega-guilty of Micky Mouse Clubhouse marathons when I’m working, cooking, or even need to pee by myself.  Under my watchful ear, Red has consumed hours of Miles from Tomorrowland while I catch up on some type of work, and maybe start that glass of wine while Chase starts up the dishwasher.  Guilty as charged.  

And the educational television point?  That may be the most relaxed of all my pre-child standards.  While my husband has pretty much banned Spongebob from the house, I’ve been known to enjoy many fart-humor jokes with my four year old, and even a few PG-13 movies that Red most likely would have been fine without.  My husband once took him to see Guardians of the Galaxy when I was out of town, which made for some great manly-bonding, but a bit too much physicality and perhaps an obscene gesture or two.  (Red didn’t pick up on it, thankfully, but still loves Groot).  

Just this weekend, we took Red to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens (find my Kylo Ren cocktail here or maybe some star wars coloring pages!).   First I had to consider if taking a child to see Star Wars was what I wanted to do.  Other than the monsters, I was sure that Red had the maturity enough to handle the war-like battles. 

And here’s where my NOT Mommy Wars story comes in. Our family had dinner with another family that is very close with us, and we all started to share thoughts about the movie. No spoilers (They hadn’t seen it yet)!  That’s when I asked the mom if she was going to take her four year old to see it, since he and his Dad are into comics, superheroes and sci-fi.  She said she took “a more conservative view” of kids and movies but we were both so respectful of the other’s choice that it took me back.  Normally, another parent might take issue with such a young kid going to see a big action movie like this, or another parent thinking it’s totally fine may raise a brow at the conservative parent thinking that they were being too uptight.  But not in this instance.  It was a calming feeling to be united as parents; to know what was best for our families and acting on it.  That was awesome.

Catch up with Similac on Facebook and YouTube or hit up the SoM page for more support for Parents. We’re all in this together!  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. The Sisterhood (all of us!) is there to help you get through motherhood with confidence — and zero judgment. And I firmly believe that’s way it should be.