Is Mommy Selfish?

I have seen the disapproving looks of teachers and other family members when Mom seemingly puts herself in front of her child. Maybe she would prefer to go to the gym than bake cookies in class, or she’d rather stay home to watch a favorite TV show than join in on a play date. While it’s easy for others to judge, a happy Mommy is a better Mommy.

I’m not suggesting that baking cookies in class isn’t important. It is very important and rewarding for most mothers and children. But for a parent who is stressed out, helping tots scatter flour and chocolate chips may not be the correct medicine. Instead, in that moment, hitting the treadmill may be much more effective in lowering her stress level.

When we have kids, there is no manual to follow. Each parent has to follow her own gut to figure out how to be the best she can be. Of course, what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for the next. As a preschool teacher, I love when parents come in to volunteer. I enjoy watching the bond between the parent and child and it’s magical to see the pride that the child has when his mommy comes to school.

Yet, let’s all try to be a little bit more understanding and less judgmental of the parents whose choices may not be in line with our own.