While single mothers are still stigmatized, some solo moms say they wouldn't have it any other way. Glad to have their ex out of the picture and parenting without interference, they're comfortable with the role. But what about married mothers who (at least sometimes) wish they were single mothers? Husbands who don't help out with the kids or who aren't there emotionally for their wives have left a number of moms wishing their Facebook status read "single."
Oh, how Mommy & Me fashion has changed. It used to be mothers wearing Laura-Ashley style dresses, while their little ones donned a child-appropriate smock in the same fabric. A little creepy perhaps, but at least it was clear who was the mother and who was the child. Gone are the days of "age appropriate" clothing. Now, there is virtually no difference between the styles marketed to toddlers as to those marketed towards the pre-menopausal set. Are we all 13 going on 30 or 30 going on 13?
People are used to justifying splurge purchases. "Yes, it was expensive but it's a classic so I can wear it forever." "I probably shouldn't have but it was so cute I couldn't resist." But what about when your child is the splurge purchase? Generations ago, many children were seen as a source of manual labor and revenue-generation for their families. Now, kids are expensive money-sucks. Researchers say that in order to justify the amount of money parents spend raising their children, parents are increasingly likely to overstate the emotional rewards brought by their offspring.
Having your child bombarded by peer pressure is a concern for the parent of any teen. The demands to dress a certain way and to fit in with the cool crowd can be endless -- but what happens when those pressures come from mom? For parents who felt they were socially awkward or unpopular in high school (which is probably most people), it can be tempting to try and live vicariously through your children
Children playacting suicide bombings while their parents film them and then post the videos on YouTube? The levels of wrong in this scenario are endless. From a Western perspective, the thought of another generation being taught to hate and kill Americans (and our allies) is terrifying. From a parenting perspective, the thought of young children being encouraged to simulate killing themselves and the resulting psychological implications for these kids is saddening.