One of the most common complaints among my mom friends is that people are always telling them what to do.
You're going to spoil that kid...Shouldn't she be wearing socks?...Poor little thing, hasn't mommy fed you?...He should go to bed earlier...
Imagine that! The stereotype of the nagging mother turned on its head! We’re not doing the ones doing the nagging…everybody else is!
I’ve thought about this a lot lately. I’ve been wondering why I’m in a constant pissy mood, and I’ve come to realize that it’s because everybody seems to think they would be better at my job than I am.
And ever since I’ve come to this realization I’ve been freed of some of the brewing pissy-ness. In fact, the more I think about this the more I start laughing to myself, not unlike a crazy lady. Because let's face it, whoever thinks that they can do my job better than I can is just plain wrong. My job description is very specific: To raise two particular little boys, the likes of which the world has never known, and never will see again.
I’m the only person who’s ever had this job, and while I’m not perfect at it by any stretch of the imagination, I’m the most experienced candidate. Also, despite the inevitable complaint here and there, I truly love it.
When I had a paying job, no one criticized every single decision I made. It was assumed that I was qualified. Now that I’m a mother, it’s the exact opposite. Most people think that moms are guilty of incompetence until proven innocent.
Maybe it’s because so many people seem to think that parenting is so easy any idiot can do it.
It’s not true.
There is no way that anyone can raise my two boys better than I can. I don't care is the person tsk-tsking has raised 10 children or is childless and convinced when they have kids they will never (fill in the blank). Maybe they mean well, I don't know. All I know is that I didn't lose my brains the day I became pregnant.
So stop trying to tell me how to do my job. I'll ask for help when I need it.
The management thanks you for your understanding.
