Be your own kind of Mom

I use disposable diapers. I give my kids candy and cake and ice cream sometimes. I don't always buy organic, even the dirty dozen list. I made my own baby food for Brynn but not Mady. My kids are fully vaccinated. Only 2 times in her life has someone else put Mady in bed (and that was because I was in the hospital having Brynn). I have never spent an entire day away from my kids. Sometimes I yell and overreact. I have spanked Mady when she needed it. I still let Mady use a pacifier to sleep. Mady will only nap on the couch, not in her bedroom. My kids eat frozen chicken nuggets for lunch at least once a week. I don't sew or crochet or quilt or anything like that and i don't really want to. Sometimes at Target I let my kids get something from the dollar spot so I don't have to hear them whine. If you go to the grocery with me without throwing a fit you usually get a small treat afterwards. I don't always wipe down carts or public things my kids touch. My kids probably watch too much TV. I bribe Mady to eat vegetables with ice cream. I let both girls cry it out at some point. I did not nor do I want to babywear. My girls are not allowed to sleep in our bed, past 3 months. After they go to bed I do not open their bedroom doors unless they are crying or I am getting them up.

Call me a bad mom if you want. I'm not perfect and I don't try to be. And despite what may be seen as my downfalls as a mom, my kids are still growing and rarely sick. Every time the fridge is open Brynn goes for the carrots. Both girls love fruit. They go to the bed at the same time every night and typically stay there till morning. They have each learned to put themselves to sleep. They can each entertain themselves. They may fight, but do genuinely love each other. Both girls are very smart and get along with other kids. I sit and play with them everyday. We smile and laugh and giggle all the time.

I don't care if you think I am doing some things wrong as a mother. At some point you have to realize that you are you're own person, so you are your own kind of mom. I don't care if you use cloth diapers, don't vaccinate, wear your child everywhere, never watch TV and only eat organic. That's fine with me. As long as your children are healthy and happy you are probably doing okay. So to all my mom friends or soon-to-be mom friends, stop judging each other and worrying about what everyone else thinks. Raise your kids how you want. Love them. Enjoy them. And do get a glue gun (that can fix more toys than you know and prevent toddler meltdowns).