Pro Choice?
Before you get all upset, this isn’t a post about abortion. Now that we have that settled, this is a matter about choice.
When my mom was young, there wasn’t a whole lot of choosing going on. If you went to college, you most likely chose between being a teacher, a secretary or a nurse. You mostly went to college to find a husband. Then, you quit your job and stayed at home with your kids, they wore cloth diapers, they drank formula, they went to public school and so on.
Now, we have SO many choices. Where to go to school and what to major in, and whether or not to marry or have children or if we do, do we stay at home, hire a nanny or put them in day care? Do we cloth diaper or use disposables? Do we co-sleep, or not? Do we breast feed or bottle feed? When should we introduce solids? Do we wear our babies, or not? What kind of sippy cup should we use? Pacifier, or not, and if we do, when should it be taken away? Cry it out, or not? Then, home, private or public school?
I write this because lately, I am appalled at how often women criticize others for their choices, when we as a generation applauded those who made it possible for us to have them at all. Yes, I’ve been guilty of it too. I used to really sneer at the “schedule” moms. You know the ones. You call and ask if they want to get coffee, and they say they can as long as it is between 10:15 and 10:42 am because little Susie can’t have her nap cut short and she has to be home in time for her mid-morning snack and story.
Guess what? God gave me a child that thrives on a schedule and now I’m choking down a big old slice of humble pie.
So, now I’m on a mission. To applaud women for making their own choice. Is it really any of our business what a family puts on a child’s butt or what time their bed time is? As long as the child is loved and well taken care of, do we really have the right to stand in judgement of another mom who is just trying to get through the day?
Now, excuse me, because it is 2:22 and I must go for my afternoon walk with Lily.
Beth, as always, you hit it right on the nose! Love ya, mama!!!