My first grader… yes, good times. I don’t think other parents think we’re insane. I think they can relate, even if they won’t talk about it. For some reason, the fact that parenting is tough has turned into this big dark secret that no one talks about. But it IS tough and it IS challenging, and parents are not saints. We’re human. I think mommy blogs are great because they give us an opportunity to openly discuss these issues.

It’s easy for people to “flame” anonymously, without consequence. It’s kind of like flipping off a stranger who cuts you off on the road. The fun part is when that stranger turns out to be your neighbor.

So you can ask them, “If you would say it online, would you also have the courage to say it in person?” I say, stand behind what you write or don’t bother.

The easiest thing to do is ignore it.

BTW, I stumbled your post about the 1st grader writing the dedication about “cranky mom” and had to laugh– I had the same experience with my 4th grader writing about how mad I get and drawing a pic of me all frowny and yelling at her and her siblings– It was up at Open House. Good times! She said it was because I get mad when they make messes and I have to clean. I said, “Stop making the messes then!” I’m sure all the other parents think I’m insane and wonder how I got *such* a sweet little girl.

The angry writer seems to know that you have kids, so you’ve obviously spoken of them, am I right?
So they already contradicted themselves horribly. “You never speak of your kids, but for some reason I know you have children, even though you never speak of them”. Haha.

Secondly, I am the SAME way. I am a part of a parenting board, and I also blog, and very RARELY do I speak of my children. Why? Well quite frankly, I don’t feel comfortable talking about and sharing pictures of my children on the internet with people I don’t know. I’m merely there to get that “adult” connection with those that share the same interest, or lifestyle. I always tell people, when I’m speaking… my children are a given to every bit of it. When I make a list of the most important things in my life, my children are a given. Like an “auto” button.

Some mothers just get a bit jealous of how others do their thing, and this is what spawns from it, a hate letter.

I love hate mail though, because it’s entertaining and even more so when it’s got horrible grammar and spelling. Those are always fun!

Remember the last time you flew on an airline? Remember the safety instructions they give regarding the oxygen masks?

This is a test:

If you are traveling with a small child and the oxygen masks drop down, who do you put the mask on first, yourself or the child?

Most people say the child. They are wrong. If you pass out from lack of oxygen, who is going to protect that child the remainder of the flight or during a crash? No one. You put the mask on yourself first.

This is true of life as well. Mothers are still women and need to nourish and rejuvenate themselves as women in order to be whole for their children. I’m glad you did not cave into this reader’s email.

Keep up the good work.

Louise’s last blog post..Motherhood.

Those parents who can’t are doing themselves, and in my opinion, their children, a grave disservice. I’m sure it’s wonderful to have children. But when you get that rare chance to be around other people, especially those who don’t have children, it is important to remember that you are a person, too.

I think that when children see their parents’ lives revolving around them so completely that the parents have no room for the outside world, it leads them to have unrealistic expectations that the rest of the world will revolve around them as well. It won’t. And that realization can lead to antisocial and aggressive behavior.