If you've never heard of mom-shaming, thank your lucky stars you don't have children. It's the kind of low-down, side comments moms make to other moms regarding parenting decisions. Complete strangers who are mothers have come up to me to offer unsolicited advice from the moment I was visibly pregnant and will (undoubtedly) continue to do so for as long as I am a mother, I am sure.
Anyway, typically when one hears of 'mommy shaming' they think of all the people who live a lifestyle like me- the stay at home, all-natural, Martha Stewart type. And granted, there are many of moms like me who do try to shame other moms who choose a life that's different.
I don't go out of my way to tell ANYONE how they should run their own affairs. I do have strong beliefs, but aside from this blog, you'll never hear me bring them up in any mom's group or with any other friend of mine. It's divisive, I get it. So I shut up.
However- I will speak up that the reverse of this 'mommy shaming' is STILL shaming. It's not okay.
I recently saw a photo of a perfectly cute lunch box someone posted on Pinterest, those bento boxes that some moms (or dads!) make for their kids. If you've never seen a bento box, I'm including a picture of one below. They're really adorable and a great way to make meals fun for finicky eaters.
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Cute, am I right??
Well, I saw a picture someone posted of a bento box with the caption "To perfect moms- please cut this shit out, love - all normal moms"
(?!)
Am I missing something?
To me, this is insulting and insinuating moms who actually LIKE to do these kinds of things for their children are trying to shame other moms. True, some might. BUT- it's a freaking lunch box and just harmless fun for the child opening it.
To say it's a clear sign of mommy-shaming is assuming the mom was TRYING to shame you to begin with for packing a simple sandwich. Please. Can we cut this out?
How is shaming moms who actually enjoy doing these things for their kids, actually NOT mom-shaming. It is, pure and simple.
I take joy in cooking and cleaning and taking good care of my family. Not because I am a 50's housewife. In fact, feminism gave me a choice to stay home or go to work and I simply chose to stay home. That is simply what I believe is best for me and my family.
Sharing photos and snarky comments like this simply isn't helping mom-shaming. It's making it worse.
Do what normal people do and make an anonymous blog to write your secret bitch-fests out ;) and no one shall be the wiser.
