Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer from Ohio, where she lives with her husband and two kids. Visit her blog, TheYoungMommyLife.com, for daily musings about the issues young moms face.
Over the past two months, there have been a few mini “mommy crusades” that have sparked coverage in the media.
The first was the uproar of mommy bloggers [https://blogs.forbes.com/sciencebizblog/2008/11/twitter-moms-si.html], who were offended after a rather mild Motrin ad suggested that moms who wear their babies in carriers were doing so to be fashionable, not because they wanted to bond with their children. The moms mobilized and Twittered, and in a matter of days the ad was taken down, the company issued an apology and all was well.
Until it wasn’t.
Now the latest uproar is on Facebook [https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/breastfeeding-facebook-photos/?ref=technology], where breastfeeding moms are perturbed that their breastfeeding pictures are being taken down, with Facebook execs citing other users’ complaints as the reason for the removal.
While I applaud the moms speed in organizing and voicing their opinions, I feel like this outrage is a bit misplaced.
First of all, regarding Motrin, it’s just an ad. If you don’t like it, then buy Tylenol. Or Advil. Or any one of the thousands of other pain-relievers on the shelf. It’s not that deep.
Secondly, regarding Facebook, why are you sharing your breastfeeding pictures to begin with? I understand, you think it’s a glorious thing. I breastfed both my kids too, but I can’t imagine posting pictures of my little one attached to my boob on Facebook, which gets millions of hits each month. No thank you.
Want to know what outrages me?
Expensive child care which makes it harder to save and harder to feel fulfilled at work, because you know a large chunk of your money is going elsewhere.
Educational systems that are failing our kids, with soaring drop-out rates and a growing population of kids who are failing further behind every year.
The millions of kids who don’t have the love and support of both parents, when one or both decided that being a parent was too much and decided to bounce and let the kid fend for themselves.
These are real issues. Where is the media coverage of the “Moms against sub-par schools” Facebook group? Why haven’t the mommy bloggers tackled a bigger topic like health care or emphasis on the work-home balance? Why are these trivial complaints brought to the forefront when bigger changes need to be made?
MadMax says
Well said Tara and right on point. American women need to prioritze. Our children are hte future if we don’t protect and guide them correctly we are in for a land full of paris hilton wannabes, 50 cent losers and the like. I find it disheartening and delusion that so many people and can get into an uproar about silliness but simply ignore how bad the education system is failing our young. Now is the time to organize and deploy!
Harriet says
All I can say is, “Amen!” I agree 100%!
MissJay says
I never thought that it was such a big deal that women should be allowed to post pictures of themselves breast feeding. To me that is almost like posting nude pictures. I know there’s a difference but there’s no need for the whole world to see your child attached to your mammory glands. I agree with this post. My friend breast fed in public and she placed a blanket over her child’s head and fed her. I thought that was tasteful and didn’t warrant any protests or anyone trying to kick her out the mall.
Nicole says
I haven’t seen any of these issues covered by the media, but your right about the daycare and other points you made. I still can’t believe that some of these home daycares charge 200-300 a week. That’s crazy, especially when most of them get reimbursed by the state for the food they serve the kids.
Lisa Maria Carroll says
Amen. And, amen. We all have a voice, but these folks are starting to sound like a bunch of clanging cymbals.
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