The Momitor and Competitive Parenting

We all know one, you know the mom that always knows best, whose child always does this and that at an advanced age and better than your own child. The Momitor. She hits you when you are down with a “well little Johnny can sing his ABCs and he is only 18 months. And did I tell you he started walking at 9 months?” Blah, blah, blah.

So are you one of these moms? Do you constantly put your kid up against your friend’s children? Can’t we all just relax and understand that each of us knows what is right for our own children?

As I sit here and write this I know I am a hypocrite. Over the weekend we ran into a child that was in the home-daycare with my son prior to him switching schools. I watched as the boys interacted and played ball but the Momitor in me noticed that this child, who was older than my son, was not talking. So here I am confessing to the fact that I had a Momitor moment! I mean hey, my son talks and most of the time it is English so surely that other child is delayed or isn’t engaged enough by his parents. Or maybe they are just laid back and they know their child best and how he communicates with them and I should just mind my own business.

I think all moms have a Momitor tendency. We compare growth chart stats, developmental milestones and the like, and at the end of the day we all want to know that our children are developing and growing the same as the rest of their peer group.

 

Might as well face it we are addicted to Sprout

Before becoming a mother, I thought there is no way my child is going to watch TV on a regular basis. He will be forced/encouraged to play outside (like I was) and allow his imagination to take him to fun and unusual places. What kind of parent allows their child to watch TV almost every evening??? Apparently I am that parent.  Who knew that at the end of a busy work day after “making” dinner and bathing my filthy child (Really, how does he get that dirty? Does he just roll around in the sandbox at school all day?) I would be the first to plop down on the couch and turn on the TV?

Sprout is an educational channel (thank you PBS) so I have minimal feelings of guilt that my child watches Nina and Star each night before we read our books, say our prayers, and go to bed. In fact he is learning a few new things during his (our) quality time with Nina, he learns new signs, Spanish words, and stretches/yoga moves. We talk to Nina and Star like they are our friends.

Is this the right way to end a long day? Well, if there is one thing I have learned over the past 23 months there is no right and wrong way to parent. Every parent/family is different. Sprout works for us. You may not agree with our choices and I am okay with that.

What are your night time rituals?