Time Magazine Brouhaha – hahahahahaha (insane laughter of commenters)

May 15th, 2012

It seems many mommies’ panties are in a twist over the provocative Time Magazine breastfeeding cover.  I’m not going to write anymore about the mom on the cover, I’ve already done so and it’s my hope that a conscionable media outlet will give her the opportunity to speak for herself once the dust has settled.

What I do want to write about is an incredible post by Kristen Howerton of Rage Against the Minivan entitled Where is the War for the Motherless Child?  Reading it was like sticking a finger in a light socket, shocking me out of the idiocy of the Mommy Wars debate.

In it she writes:

“I don’t much care if you breastfed your kid until they started kindergarten, or if you fed them formula from day one. I don’t really care if you turned your infant car-seat forward-facing prior to age 2, or if you homeschool, or if you send your kids to daycare while you go to work. Do you cosleep? Did you circumcise your son? I DON’T CARE.  Do you babywear? Push your kid around in a stroller? Use a leash for your kid at Disneyland?  Whatever.  Good for you.

When it comes to issues of motherhood, there is one issue I care about: some kids don’t have one. All of these petty wars about the choices of capable, loving mothers is just a lot of white noise to me, Quite honestly, I’m often astonished at the non-essential parenting issues I see moms getting their panties in a wad about. Particularly when there are so many kids in this world not being parented at all.”

Hello reality check!  Talk about elevating the discussion.  And Kristen is walking the walking having been fortunate enough to adopt one child through the foster care system and another from Haiti.

Human beings are judgmental.  I know, I’m one of them.  But do we really need to lay that judgment online at the feet of people WE DON’T EVEN KNOW?  Those nasty character-defiling comments will live on for time and all freaking eternity.

There are moms whose parenting styles drive me crazy.  Guess what?  Their kids are turning out great!  (No, I’m not talking about your parenting style.  I love your parenting style).  So let’s lighten up and support each other.  Oh sure letting off a bunch of vitriol is like slamming back sex-on-the-beach cocktails out of test tubes – initially intoxicating — but the hangover is monumental.  Kindness, politeness isn’t as edgy and fun, but in the long run it makes you feel so much better.

If you want to read all of Kristen’s article about getting our priorities straight CLICK HERE.  You’ll feel smarter and less like a lame-ass fool.

 

 

 

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