One movie I saw last year called "Bad Moms" made me laugh out loud and helped me appreciate my mother even more.
Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn starred in this 2016 comedy as well as many other Hollywood stars. I honestly couldn’t stop laughing and the humor was well served. It’s one of those films that are fun to watch because it’s so relatable.
After years of dealing with mom-shamers, a deadbeat spouse, and being under-appreciated, Amy (played by Mila Kunis) and two other moms ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.
After watching this film, it made me think about how mom-shaming can really affect those who have children. I’m not a parent, but I get infuriated when I see someone, mommy-shaming other parents.
In a recent study, 6 in 10 mothers of children ages 0 to 5 said they have been criticized about parenting, on everything from discipline to breastfeeding. Moms most frequently felt second-guessed by a spouse or the child’s other parent, in-laws, or their own parents. Being a parent is already hard enough, and the last thing they need is for someone (especially those who don’t even have kids) to criticize them.
For those of who don’t know, mommy-shaming is when other people, in-person and online, openly criticize a mom for her parenting choices, which might cause her to feel ashamed or doubt herself.
Moms who breastfeed in public are often the target of judgment. Some feel that breastfeeding in public is inappropriate and disgusting. They are often told to breastfeed in private or go to the nearest restroom and feed their child. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t eat your meals in a public restroom because it’s unsanitary, right? So, what makes you think it would be okay to feed a child in a public restroom? That’s absolutely disgusting! Feeding your child in an unsanitary condition will make them sick.
Also, stop telling mothers to cover up when they are breastfeeding their child. The female breasts were meant for feeding their offspring, and they were never meant to be sexualized by the western world. Please don’t act so immature when you see a woman breastfeeding her child in public.
In conclusion, being a parent is already hard enough, and when someone stands by and judges you on your parental abilities, it only makes it harder. If they’re not your kids, then kindly shut up and keep your judgments to yourself. You never know what that family is going through, so your opinions about them are better left unsaid.
And if you don’t even have kids, then you really shouldn’t be the one to judge.
