Some of the things I do as a mother; my beliefs, have put me into the category of "sanctimommy" by my peers. This is not something I would typically allow to bother me, but it does. I do what is best for my children based on RESEARCH. My own hours of research. I don't watch a TV show or read a magazine article to come to my conclusions. I look at the facts, based on scientific research and for my views based on the experts. And, it's a learning process. I didn't learn all these things overnight, magically when I became pregnant.
With each child, my views have changed a little bit. I'm definitely not perfect as a mother and have plenty of flaws. But, I'd like to think that where it counts, I'm doing well.
Food. I give my children snacks and junk food. Just not often. When they get it, it is a treat. I don't want to teach my children that chips are an acceptable form of nutrition, because they're not. They are a snack, best used in heavy moderation and not as a replacement for a better food group. I always have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand. And, my kids like them. From an early age, I gave my children a large variety of foods. My kids can be picky about what they eat sometimes, but for the most part, they eat healthy.
Drinks. In my house, juice is NOT a staple. It is packed full of sugar, and my kids don't need it. Do they get juice? Yes. 4-6 ounces a day and no more. I give them water. Water is good for the body, especially a growing child. Sure my children have snuck in a sip of my Sprite before, they are kids and they want what I want. But, I am not going to just GIVE soda to my children. It's not good, for anyone. I don't even drink soda very often and we don't keep it in the house. My children do get milk, but not very much. Past infancy (which is defined as being up to 5 years of age, btw) milk is no longer needed. It can actually be BAD for you. I know, shocking. Since everyone, doctors, WIC, hospitals push it on us so hard. BUT, do some research, REAL research and you'll come to find that it is not necessary and not always healthy. So, my kids get milk with their cereal and a cup of milk when they ask, but aside from my one year old, I don't push it on my kids.
Safety. I will NEVER stop talking about the importance of car seat knowledge. I won't lie, it breaks my heart when I see a 3 year old in a low-back booster. I think, "If only they knew what I know". But, I try my hardest to keep my mouth shut, because it's not my place to tell other parents what to do. I post car seat information any chance I get, but I rarely bring it up in conversation with other parents. I don't want to make them feel bad, or that I am judging them. The simple fact is- if you don't KNOW the true facts about car seat and the importance of extended rear-facing and 5-pt harnessing, then you are only basing your decisions on what you do know, which probably isn't much. My daughter remained rear facing until she was 1. I didn't know how important it was to keep her rear-facing. My older son stayed RF until he was 18 months old, at which point he had outgrown his seat RF and I didn't have the money to buy the car seat that would accommodate him. My now 1 year old WILL stay RF until he is 3. Luckily, I will have the money to get the seats needed. I realize that not everyone has $200 to dish out on a single car seat. BUT, there are cheaper car seats that WILL allow you to RF your child until they are at least 2, or maybe even 3 AND keep them 5-pt harnessed until they are 5. I have taller than average sized children, so for me, it is more expensive. But, after I buy their next seats, I won't have to buy them another car seat until they are old enough AND big enough for a low-back booster.
Health. I don't vaccinate my children. 2 of my children had reactions to shots, first of all. Secondly, I don't trust these vaccines. Every year they have to create a NEW vaccine. Didn't know that? Now you do. They have to adjust them for ever-changing viruses and diseases. Now, do you think if they develop, say a new Flu shot EVERY year, that they have the time to do human trials, to test these shots to make sure they are safe? NO. We won't even use lipstick that is tested on rabbits in this society, they won't release a male form of birth control unless it has NO side effects, but we are perfectly okay with injecting our children with these vaccines that we know so little about? Furthermore, if the vaccines were TRULY safe, then doctors would actually REPORT reactions to the shots, but they don't. When my sons had reactions, I am the one who reported them, not the doctor. AND, VAERS has a recovery fund for when the shots go bad. This is NOT about autism people. It is about the CDC and the AAP LYING to people. I'm not going to trust these companies to inject unknown, untested products into my children when they can't even keep their story straight with ME.
I know, I know, I seem like that crazy lady spouting off about conspiracy theories outside Walmart on a Saturday morning. But, I'm not, I promise. I am an informed parent and because of that, I feel my children are safer. It doesn't mean I think that you are a BAD parent if you do things differently. But, if you know these things, and disregard them and still put your 3 year old in a low-back booster, or give your children soda chips every day, well...I won't judge you. It's just sad to me that in an age where we have all of this information readily available, people are still refusing to take advantage of it, even for the safety of their children.
I don't do these things so that I can think or say that I'm a better mother than you, I do these things because I feel they are best for my children. And, if you think I do these things so I can say I'm better than you, then maybe you need to rethink what you're doing.
I won't think less of you because you choose differently. So long as you sweep you misconceptions about me under the rug.
