My Kid Is Better Than Your Kid

So here I go on a little rant. Ever since I was prego I've felt the stress, as many mothers do, of proving to everyone that I can do this. I was 18 when I got pregnant and married (in that order ha ha), I knew what everyone thought, and it drove me nuts. I wanted to prove that I wasn't to young or crazy (I was a wild one) to take care of my baby.

Luckily when I had Logan he was and is my world! I still cant believe that I can love someone so much. I'll just stare at him and I have to squeeze him and kiss him all over cuz he is so freaken cute! Anyway back to the point... I still feel that feeling of, What are people going to think if... I've gotten to the point that I say to hell with it. I let Logan out in our carport/condo driveway area to play with his cars with, heaven forebid, no shoes. I could care less if he wears shoes outside, I never did, but I'm sure neighbors are looking at him and shaking there heads ARGH! See I still do it. I'm not going to hold his hand everywhere we go to prove I'm watching him, If I know he wont run away then he wont. I dont need to wash his hands every 30 minutes or try and calm him down so he wont embarass me in public instead of giving him timeout at the grocery store. I'm going to do what I need to, causing whatever scene I want.

I also hate the competition between mothers. Everyone brags about there children and with good reason but when you start comparing your kid to my kid, I'm going to break your nose. Logan is perfectly average. He wasn't the 18 month old who can read books but he knew his ABC's! I used to feel the stress of; look what that kid is doing my kid should be doing that to. But that is ridiculous! I have a few rules for myself as Logan gets older:

1. Dont make him do anything he doesn't want to do that he doesn't need to do.
Explanation: Anyone who has seen some of the TV shows about the parents of the 5 year old beauty queens knows these moms are showing off those girls for their own pride. It makes me furious to see them sceaming and crying and their mom just telling them how pretty they will be on stage blah blah blah, seriously get a grip mom. If they want to go up there then yes, let them, it will make them happy but if they dont then leave them alone.
If anyone has seen the new Bruno movie (only a select disturbed few) there is a scene where he is asking parents what there kids can do or what they are comfortable with doing to be on this [fake] TV show. I couldn't believe how some of the parents answered! One mom said that she wouldn't mind helping her 30 pound child loose 10 pounds for the show, she would eve consider liposuction WTF!

2. Praise Praise Praise, always let him know he is loved. I honestly dont care if my son grows up to be hippee, preppy, gangsta (with exceptions) or gay. As long as he is loving and accepting and respectful. Hopefully I can raise him that way.

3. I need to remember that one.

This is one of my favorite quotes from my friend Karin, she is an awesome homeschooling diva with four of the cutest kids ever, her youngest is currently engaged to my nephew, "I sometimes wonder why we moms cannot all just get along? Why are we recreating Junior High with each other? To that end, I've made it my personal mission to give mothers with temper tantrum throwing toddlers a BIG smile and a empathetic, " Hang in there. We've all been there!" Instead of looking down at them and smirking because my children are currently behaving like angels and nibbling on an organic mini rice cake."

So, I'm sick of this competition between moms, the comparing and the worrying that other people are judging our parenting. I am going to be better about doing the same judging to others as well. We all have different beliefs, views, and ways to raising our kids. There is no degree in being a mom, there is no requirements, we are all doing the best we can!

If your ever feeling down, just remember... Your better then these parents.