Labels

I feel the need to start off with a caveat because I am hyper-aware of those who will eye roll at the extreme lameness of what have done. So yes, I am aware:

-the interwebz is not in need of another blog.

-no one needs two blogs

-and, goddamnit, the world certainly does not need another mommyblog (a term, by the way, I find degrading and ridiculous. I'm a fake a writer, but would you call a real writer a mommy-writer? Would you call someone a MommyLawyer? A DaddyDoctor? Same goes for Mompreneur. Punch Me.)

Think of it this way:

Two people are instructed to answer the sentence starter "I am" with three descriptions.

One sheet looks like this:

I am...a receptionist
I am...a cook
I am...a sister

And the other:

I am...compassionate
I am...stubborn
I am...self aware

Definition of Self through career and relation to others is a very, very Western Trait; the owner of sheet two is much more likely to hail from somewhere in Asia. Broad vs. Narrow socialization and all that.

Anyway, the same characterization lends itself to parenting.

"Mr. Imperfect," I said, as we loaded up to attend a workshop on babywearing, "don't mention we don't cosleep. Hmm, do you think they'll judge me if I breastfeed with a cover on?"

"Uh, okay? And...no?"

"Oh, and for the love of God, DON'T tell anyone I had an epidural!"

Labels, people:

Attachment parenting, Ferberian parenting, Crunchy Mom, Natural Parent, whatever. Stay-at-home, work-at-home, work-outside-the-home, etc.

Unlike the "I am" sheets, I don't have research to back me up, but I'll bet this obsession with labelling is a pretty North American phenomenon as well.

So here I am, as a mother:

I am stubborn, flawed, loving and in love, loyal, sometimes irrational, devoted, learning, happy and hopeful.