Can't We All Just Get Along?

One thing I have learned since becoming a parent is that parenting styles are extremely different and there are huge debates between parents (mostly moms) regarding all kinds of issues with children. Breastfeeding; binkys; vaccinations; circumcision; bumper pads; co-sleeping; staying home; infant sign language; toilet training; brand of formula; starting solids; and the list goes on and on. Often these topics are the cause of heated debates between mothers. But, most often these topics bring certain disapproving looks, tone of voice or the infamous questions meant to be somehow disguised as "just questions" except anyone with a brain knows that these "questions" are really a dig on your parenting. For example, "you are using that brand of formula, hmmm?" or "wouldn't he take a pacifier?" or "why is he circumcised, are you Jewish?" When confronted with these "questions" it takes every fiber of your being not to retort with what you really want to say, such as, "you really think what brand of formula matters, at least my kid doesn't eat his boogers!" or "at least my 3 year old isn't running around with a binky in his mouth!" etc. Why can't we just agree to disagree and not care so much about what other parents choose to do with their children? Unless what they are doing is abusive it really isn't our place to say what is right or wrong. We should all parent the way we see fit and move on.

Certainly, I have been guilty of judging other moms as well, but I try at the very least to keep it to myself or only discuss it with my husband. It isn't my place to make comments directly to the other mom. Therefore, I hereby make a pledge to stop the judging and start supporting other mothers in their parenting. Becoming a mom for the first time is very challenging and we should be there for each other as mothers, no matter what our parenting style is. So, next time you have a strong opinion, just keep it to yourself and don't try to disguise your disdain in the form of a question, you aren't fooling anyone.