Tuesday, June 4, 2013

In which I rant about rants

Lately, I've seen a lot of posts about how it's cool to hate being a mother and how negative a trend that is.  About how you're not allowed to say you love being a mom.  About how people want to stop reading so much negative talk and think parents should stop snarking and complaining so much because we're all so lucky to have our kids.

And you know what?  It really bugs me.

Maybe I'm not reading the same things as everyone else.  But I don't see a trend of complaining about kids.  I see a trend about complaining about mom bloggers complaining about kids.  I don't think it's cool to hate being a mom.  I think it's "cool" to hate on each other.

As usual.

So here's what I have to say.

I love my kids.  I'm glad I'm their mom.  I'm grateful. And sometimes it sucks.

And if you feel that way too?  I think you're doing great.

And if you don't feel that way too?  I think you're doing great.

Because, dude.

Everyone has to navigate parenting differently and everyone has to feel her own feelings.  Not has a right to.  Has to.  And people use social media for different purposes.

And you know what?  If you don't like what someone's writing, most browsers have this little x button somewhere on the top bar.  Close the window.  Unsubscribe.  Unfollow.  No one is making you stay.

And I realize now that I'm writing this, that this is a tirade about blog posts saying that I don't understand why people write tirades about other blog posts.  So I guess maybe I do understand.

So what I really want to say is this.  Tell your truth.  If your truth is that you are happy all the time, say it.  If your truth is that you aren't happy all the time but you work really hard at being positive and grateful, say it.  If your truth is that you don't like the way your life is going, or that you're struggling, or that your kids are making you crazy, say it.

And then be kind to each other.  And give each other the benefit of the doubt.  And if you really don't want to read what someone is saying, walk away and don't read it.

That's what I'm doing.

8 comments:

  1. Amen to that, sister.

    Social networking can quickly turn into bullying these days, even and especially with mothers and grown women.

    Brava!

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  2. It seems that there is always a new reason to hate on others. My thinking is that this is your story, the good, the bad, the ugly... it's still yours. So however you want to tell it, go for it. Just be true to yourself.

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  3. I have no words to add to something that you've already said extremely well.

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  4. I love this "rant." And I could not agree more that we all have a right to speak our truth. Well said.

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  5. *Stands and claps hands*
    I think that any mom blogger out there who is judging other bloggers for writing about their kids and the suckage of motherhood sometimes need to check themselves before they wreck themselves.
    Because I'll tell you what...if they're not blogging about it, they're complaining to their friends, family, husbands, etc. So don't effing judge the ones who do it online.
    Seriously.
    Dicks.

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  6. I love this rant. "Everyone has to navigate parenting differently and everyone has to feel her own feelings." "Tell your truth." These two statements had me jumping up and clapping. Brava mama!

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