The moms got in a fight.
They started a new group for even "realer" moms.
Yall, I can't even. I've had to leave. They are like the mean girls in high school. The clique that thinks they have good friends, but then they go their separate ways and have no people because they burned all their bridges. Then, they turn to Facebook to find friends....literally.
In these groups for the few weeks I paid attention, I couldn't help but feel like an outcast and I must not be in the top percentage of parents. One of them has nicer people and some really good feedback on topics. I have stayed their for now only because there are some pretty funny memes at times. If you know me in real life, I can't pass them up.
Yall, I am not normal (according to other moms).
I.....
- feed my kids breakfast sandwiches (donut sticks, oatmeal creme pies....)
- we don't have chickens in our yard, we buy it from Sam's
- I don't know what gluten is really and we probably eat a ton of it
- We drink water, but we also drink Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper
- I took my kids to the doctor and (gasp) held them down to be vaccinated
- they got breast milk, but I pumped it into a bottle and when I went back to work, they got formula and you know what....they are FINE
- I don't hate my husband
- I work, at a job, outside of the home
- I am a Christian
- I get along with my parents
- I don't want to pee in the bathroom with men, I have to share a bathroom with 4 at home and men and boys PEE EVERYWHERE
- We play in mud
- We play without shoes on in the yard and the dog craps out there
- Cloth diapers, are you kidding me? I had the Amazon shipment for four and half years for Luvs
- My children had their butts wiped with cold wipes
- We used bottles with disposable bags
- I pack their lunch in ziploc bags
- We eat lunchables
- We eat chips, corndogs, hotdogs, hamburgers, cheese dip..... BUT we also make them have things of nutritous value and they are not overweight
- I don't cook every meal and never do I make things from scratch
- They eat granola bars....we are that "crunchy" if you will. I am pretty sure the Great Value brand is rolled in sugar and pressed together, but they LOVE them.
- None of my kids have worn boutique anything and putting a Jon-Jon on my boy would have been in our divorce papers I am sure of it
- I use essential oils but because they are amazing and smell good and help my asthmatic allergy children breathe
- I don't like anybody running for president
- I don't have spa days, nail days....if I am not working, I like to be with my family
- I don't shop at Whole Foods, we hit up Walmart and Sam's
- We wear hand-me-downs
- We have spanking spoons galore
- They get Flintstone vitamins
- We use Paw Patrol and Superhero toothpaste
- We don't have the most expensive carseats
- We don't have all access membership passes to have something to do every afternoon, we play outside
You know what though? I have friends that do it all different then me. You know what else? That is ok. It is perfectly fine. The best part....Our kids are healthy, secure and know we love them.
I could go on and on about what makes me not normal. You know what? People argue about this. I realize there are always opinions, but guess what? Everybody has one. Can you believe there are like knock down drag out behind the computer screen FIGHTS from GROWN women on FACEBOOK about this stuff?
Moms, let's pull it together. Your way is not always better. People have their own reasoning for the way they raise THEIR children. Your way is not the better or best always. There is room for discussion on hot topics, but can it not be done in a respectful manner?
You know what matters??? That kids are healthy, nurtured, and not neglected. It matters that kids have their basic needs met everyday. It matters that they know love. It matters that they have security. Those are examples of things that matter. The other? It is trivial.
Do what works for your family. Love your people and love them well.
Stop with the judgement.
Stop with the ridiculing and fighting and bashing.
Stop with the hatred.
Stop being the Mean Girl who has no friends.
Get you a good group and surround yourself with those you love and that love you in return. Get support from REAL RELATIONSHIPS and not the unreal world of Facebook. People behind a screen are not reality. Let's stop ripping each other apart. Let's work to build positive relationships. Be transparent. Stop striving to be someone you are not to fit in.
