Open mouth, insert foot.

Although I do like to keep my personal and "mommy" blog separate, I feel like expanding on a certain issue about being a mom. I'm just going to jump right in...

Parenting is not easy. No one can prepare you enough for being one. Everything is trial and error and you learn as you go. I in no way think I'm the "perfect" parent, but I do think that I'm doing my absolute best at being one. Even so, I don't think I have the right to voice my opinion on how to parent to anyone else. For some reason I have had to deal with people that think it is there job to do so. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all about advice, suggestions, and help from family and friends that have had more experience than me, but when people start to make such bold statements that suggest if you do or don't do something you are a bad parent or bad mother it really gets under my skin!
If you want to express your opinion on what a good parent/mother is to someone why don't you write a letter to the recent mothers put in prison for killing there children.There are so many recent stories on the news about abuse, I'm sure you could spend hours trying to voice your opinion on parenting to someone who clearly shouldn't be one. My point is, until my daughter is not being taken care of like she should be, please do not try and tell me that I am a bad parent. For those of you that don't know me on a more personal level, only communicate with me on a social network, ohh lets say facebook, see's pictures of me out with my friends, or talking about planning a night to go out might be quick to have an opinion about how much time I spend with my daughter, so let me clear things up.
I am lucky enough that I get to spend everyday with my daughter. From the time she wakes up till the time she falls asleep I'm with her. I am up at 7am everyday to feed and have play time with her, I put her down for her nap then do it all over again. I bathe her, dress her, make sure she is happy, all while trying to do what I need to get done. I do laundry, dishes,clean and try to make dinner almost every night. On top of all this every other week I take care of my handicapped brother while my dad works. My brother has autism, and needs someone to watch after him 24/7. So I do all the above not only for my daughter but also while trying to do the same for my brother. Come Friday, I'm so glad for the weekend, that I have time to spend with my boyfriend and have the extra set of hands, but also that I am able to spend time with my friends if id like to. Does this make me a bad parent? No! The point I'm trying to make is that I go above and beyond to make sure my family is taken care of and if I want to go out on a Saturday night, and if I happen to have a few drinks, well damn it, I think I deserve it!! Anyone that has kids knows that having time for yourself is just as important. Sometimes you get so wound up and the stress of bills, household chores, etc. Gets to you, and you just want to take a breather. Even if its just to go get some dinner, I don't think getting a babysitter is wrong, especially when she gets to spend time with her grandparents, aunt, and uncles.
I don't feel that my social life needs to come to a stop just because I'm a mom. Things change, responsibility's change, and I get that. But when people try to cross boundaries and tell me "Your a mom now.." Followed by something like, you need to set an example, or you need to act like one, it really makes me mad, and quite honestly I want to punch you in the face. My daughter is 5 months old, she has no idea what I'm doing when she is not around, nor to I plan on telling her in detail what mommy does or what me and daddy do when she is asleep. (haha) duh,people I'm not that STUPID.
I'm not throwing back "mommy drinks" and passing out before I can put my own kid to sleep. The thing is, everyone is going to think they are better than the next, of course you want your kids and everyone else to think you are the best. You are going to have your own ideas on what makes a good parent, how you should discipline, what they eat, wear, religion, school, friends, the list goes on. Is it going to be easy for me? No. But I'm going to do my best. People should keep there opinions on these issues to themselves, and try not and tell other parents that their way is the right way. Like with the recent recall on a certain formula, some moms, or in my experience someone who is not one went as far as saying that if you can breastfeed and you don't, you are simply a bad mother. Excuse me?
I'm going to end this with saying that opinions are great, but you might want to do your research and educate yourself on a certain issue, and also get to know someone before you make such bold statements. We are all human and make mistakes, and with parenting, it is one of life's most challenging yet rewarding things we get to experience and I'm going to do all I can do to make the best of it, with or without supporters.