I don’t like to participate in school fundraisers. You know, the ones where you are forced to sell Christmas wrapping paper and ornaments, frozen pizzas and cookie dough for the betterment of the school? Every year, I say that I am going to help my children be the top fundraisers in their class by distributing the massive fundraising booklets to friends, neighbors, relatives, and the like. But truth be told, I haven’t really put any effort into it since 2006, when my daughter’s then pre-school participated in a fundraiser in which I raised over $200 in sales—only I ended up having to spend $100 in my own money because people who ordered didn’t have the money (or no longer wanted the item) once it came in. I felt like an Avon lady being shunned from the neighborhood.
I am also a bad mother because I can’t bake. I read all of these wonderful blog posts on these cool mom blogs (insert Pioneer Woman HERE because I love her) that have all of these uber fabulous baking recipes for cupcakes and red velvet cakes and homemade chocolate chip cookies and such I am the type of chick that burns the pre-made Nestle Tollhouse Cookies from the refrigeration aisle. I don’t have piping hot cookies made for the kids when they come home from school so that I can snap a picture of them eating them for my Wordless Wednesday post, and I know that alone won’t secure me a seat in the 100 Perfect Mommy Bloggers Club.
In fact, I am sure that because I let my daughter constantly stay up past her bedtime at least 3 out of 5 days of the week, will give a reason for many of you to call DCFS on me. I let me son (who is 17 by the way) listen to any kind of music he wants to, explicit lyrics and all. And I even find great joy out of traveling without my brood and/or having some alone time with me, myself, and I without my son or daughter hijacking my quiet time.
I suppose to some of you, I am a bad mother because my world is my kids, but doesn’t revolve around them.
Early on as a mom at 18, I was told all of the things I wouldn’t be able to do since I had a kid young. But due to the blessings of God and having a wonderful support system in my family, having a child at a young age didn’t stop me for doing anything that I wanted to do. I travel when I want to travel, I go out when I want to, and I still stay fabulous when it calls for it. I am not your typical mom by any stretch of the imagination, but that doesn’t bother me one bit.
The love for my kids transcends any and everything in my life. I hope that they continue to love me with my warts and all. A perfect mother I am not, but I love them perfectly.
If I am a bad mom because I don’t meet the supposed Stepford Wife criteria, then call me the black Peggy Bundy and give me a show on FOX! LOL. (Yes, I am serious!)
What’s say you? If you are a mom, do you meet the “mom” stereotype? If you aren’t a mom, what do you think of the role of a “perfect” mother?
I do not look forward to fundraisers……
I think because growing up, my parents couldn’t afford to buy the stuff and neither could the family and friends. It was painful to ask people to buy stuff knowing they couldn’t afford it.
Now that I am not working full time I am getting into the baking groove….well at least the precut cookies. 🙂
I don’t meet the perfect mom stereotype, but I am a good mom!! And so are you! 😉
Aww, thanks so much! I am trying to get into the baking thing. But I also know how to stay in my lane and baking is one of those things. 🙂
Hmph, I have yet to meet the perfect mother! And those who are coming close, are losing in other areas. I would rather be an alright mom who is also a little into being goofy with her children, and letting them see the love in the household via other things. And I too am one that loved to escape into my own world (even sometimes without my husband :hide: ) so no judgment here mama!
Thanks for this post!
Natasha, even though my 17 year old says he doesn’t like my goofiness, I think he secretly does. Thanks for commenting. Now let me log off so I can ignore my children some more. LOL.
There is no such thing as a “perfect” Mother, and trust me, you are far from being considered a bad one!! I agree with the above comment that all Moms have things that they fall short of in an area or two (or three!) That doesn’t make them am bad mother…that makes them human. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
No judgement from me at all. Plus, who likes to BEG family and friends for money for cookies and cakes we all need to cut from our diets anyway?!
In the cooking department, my husband does a lot of cooking and food prep. I’m a 2-step mom. It either needs to be add season or add water and stir. My son loves fried chicken and he’s only tasted it when I buy it freshly cooked from the grocery store.
Don’t even get me started about Halloween costumes (which he doesn’t have yet)! Last year, I put on his navy “church suit,” pinned an American flag on his lapel and told everyone at his pre-school he was President Obama!
I sooooooo feel you on the fundraiser thing….I hate them….Don’t have time for them….Because I lack the desire to participate in fundraisers and baking, I try to make up for it by making sure I give my daughter’s class treats for every holiday….Including her birthday….When I see “super moms” who do it all, I won’t front, it kinda makes me feel….Very….BLAH….I try where I can….I just CAN’T get into the fundraisers 🙁
Those fundraisers are the worst!! Nope. I don’t like ’em.
We are pretty bad about letting our 5-yr-old stay up too late. The way I look at it, if your child can wake up on time, then he/she went to bed at the proper time. The days he has trouble waking up, those are the days I know he stayed up too late.
Loved reading this! I can totally relate. I was 19 when I (ex) husband and I found out that we were going to be parents. Fast forward to 16 years later. I’m a far cry for the “mom that does it all.” I have no Martha Stewart skills, don’t really want to sell anything for the PTA, and I work 40+ hours to make sure things are taken care of. But, the kids are good, and I have no guilt about not wanting to do any of that stuff.