When we find a great post on another site, we want to make sure we share it with our Power of Moms community.
When one our editors forwarded us a link to Where Is the Mommy War for the Motherless Child? at Rage Against the Minivan, we knew this was an article we had to share with you.
Behind all the noise of whether you’ve breastfed or bottle-fed, or whether you work or stay at home, or any of the other potent parenting debates continually whirling around, is a very real problem: There are far too many children who are not being parented AT ALL. Kristen writes that when it comes to the Mommy Wars, that is the one she cares about.
If you’re feeling battle-fatigue from whatever Mommy War you’ve been conscripted into, you’ll want to read Where Is the Mommy War for the Motherless Child?.
Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
3 comments
Rachel Nielson says:
Mar 6, 2013
I have LOVED this post ever since I read it last year. I think it might be the best blog post I have ever read anywhere. Life-changing. Why are we mothers so hard on each other, so quick to compare and criticize–ESPECIALLY when there are so many bigger problems in the world? “When it comes to issues of motherhood, there is one issue I care about: some kids don’t have one. All of these petty wars about the choices of capable, loving mothers is just a lot of white noise to me.” SO TRUE!
Thank you for sharing this!
Evs says:
Mar 6, 2013
Surely, to take this to a logical conclusion we should get rid of Power of Moms altogether. Personal development for moms? Pah. First world problems, some kids don’t have a mom!
Seriously though, I do get her point, but it does not mean we cannot discuss anything just because someone else has it worse.
April Perry says:
Mar 6, 2013
I can see your point, and I definitely agree that if active discussions lead to personal development, then that is a great thing. But sadly, the vast majority of “mommy war” discussions out there (that I’ve seen) simply end in arguments and discontent. And what I see most often is a third party trying to get “eyeballs” by giving mothers a forum in which to argue . . . when really that third party never particularly cared about the issue in the first place. That’s why I love Power of Moms so much. We’re not here to fight. And hopefully you’ve never seen anything on this site that feels like a part of the “mommy wars” because that’s specifically what we try to avoid. When I read this piece, I felt that her point was to encourage us not to get distracted by frivolous discussions and miss out on the real purpose of motherhood and family. Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Rachel Nielson says:
Mar 6, 2013
I don’t think she was saying that personal development for moms is silly or useless–I think she was saying that judging each other over personal decisions such as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding is silly. Mothers can do either and be good moms. Yet the media tries to stir up these debates and turn mothers against each other because it will sell magazines.
I totally agree that we should be able to discuss being better mothers, even if someone else has it worse! Thank goodness for The Power of Moms!
DeborahBugden says:
Mar 6, 2013
I totally feel that at the power of moms we are not here to fight. I Love That! I love learning from other Moms, and learning to become a better mom, its so important to me. But when I read this blog, I felt I had landed in the middle of a fight, although I think she had some valid points, and interesting ideas. I just didnt enjoy the tone of it I guess.