By Elise Schreier, Blogger for CTWorkingMoms.com
This is for the mom that felt she couldn't share her negative feelings after having her baby because everyone else was telling her how amazing, and what a blessing, it was.
This is for the mom who was told that she was coddling and spoiling her baby, surely setting him up for future disaster, because she brought him into her bed, or didn't have him cry it out. Or the mom who was told she was doing irreparable damage to the attachment with her child because she sleep trained.
This is for the mom who was told "breast is best" while she struggled, all the while knowing it might not be best for her family.
This is for the mom who was told she was wasting her education to stay at home with her children. And her neighbor who is "letting someone else raise her kid" while she works outside of the home.
This is for the mom who felt ashamed to pull out the goldfish and fruit snacks at the playdate because all the other moms were supplying their kids with organic fruits and veggies.
This is for the mom who is racked with guilt because she's been told her child watches too much TV. Or the mom who's gotten the eye-roll because she'd rather her child not watch any.
This is for the adoptive mom who never quite felt fully a part of the mom club because she didn't have children of "her own."
This is for you. This is for me.
We often judge the choices of others to help ourselves justify the choices we make for our families. I'm guilty of this myself. But what if we could be just as confident in our own choices, while embracing the choices of others -- recognizing that all families, all children, and all situations are different? Imagine the power we could find in that.
Parenting is hard. Let's not making it harder on ourselves than we have to. We are stronger together than we are apart and on March 4th we set out to demonstrate just that!
CTWorkingMoms.com has partnered with TheBump.com on a special project we're calling Moms for Moms Day, taking place on March 4, 2014!
Moms for Moms Day is a day for all moms to show their support of judgment-free motherhood by engaging with us on social media! Snap a selfie while holding a sign with a positive message for other moms and upload it to your twitter/pinterest/instagram/facebook accounts with the hashtag #moms4moms to help spread a message of compassion and support. Or, do your own take on our Campaign for Judgment-Free Motherhood photos with some of your mom pals! Then tag us & TheBump.com so that we see your messages and share the love!
Our twitter handles: @ctworkingmoms @thebump
Hashtag to use: #moms4moms
Make sure to follow us on Facebook & Twitter stay posted on all the details.
Want to take a selfie but don't want to make your own sign? Download and print out one of our pre-made signs instead.
If you have your own blog, consider writing a piece about the importance of supporting other moms and post it on March 4th.
That same day there will be a special event at The Bump's office in NYC from 6-8 PM. We'll be live-streaming a chat where we discuss positive ways to put an end to judgments made by moms. Stay tuned for more details!
I've worked with many struggling children over the years and have been witness to multiple forms of childhood trauma. Not once did that trauma revolve around bottle feeding, disposable diapers, cry it out, co-sleeping, organic food, or how much TV their parents let them watch. Moms, we can make different choices while raising happy, healthy children.
We think motherhood should feel like a sisterhood where we're united, not divided, and Moms for Moms Day is a day to promote that important message. Join us!
All photos credited to Jean Molodetz/I View Photography