We dreamed of our baby for years before he came into our life. During that time, I read so many blogs and articles and lists and Facebook posts about the best way to raise a baby. I had my list of all the things I would do perfectly and I planned on being a crunchy mom.
I planned on making all of his food, and co-sleeping rather than cry it out, baby wearing, and exclusively breastfeeding, and all of these other labels that make you a good, crunchy mom. I mean, we have so much information at our fingertips so there’s no excuse, right?
Except all of my plans did not take into account what my baby would be like. For example, it didn’t take into account that my kiddo does not sleep well in a bed with me and my husband – he just wiggles and crawls and cries and pulls hair. He sleeps best in his own crib without distractions. It didn’t take into account that it’s very, very hard to make all organic homemade baby food and travel back and forth from St. Louis to Dayton trying to sell a house and move. It didn’t take into account that sometimes we do things that are a little easier for the mental well-being of everyone in the home.
Long story short, my sweet pea is almost two and I have comfortably fallen into my Mom-style and it is unapologetically al-dente. It’s a little too chill and convenience-oriented to be a crunchy mom, but still embraces some of the latest research, trends, and things I generally feel are just good for my son.
You might be an al dente mom, too, if:
- You really love feeding your kid natural, organic, and healthy food, but you still grab some chicken nuggets from the drive-through when it’s convenient.
- You limit screen time, but some Chuggington on the weekend or after a long day is totally a-ok.
- You use essential oils during cold or allergy season, but you still have your pediatrician on speed dial.
- You knew cloth diapering wasn’t for you, so you planned on using the most environmentally friendly diapers you could find – until your kid blew out of them every day. The best-laid plans, right?
- You use microfiber cleaning cloths to eliminate chemicals in your house – until someone has the flu and then you Lysol the place like it’s your business.
I like to think that my al dente mom style makes me a supportive mom-friend – I’ll support you and encourage you, but if you need someone to bring store-bought cupcakes to the party at the last minute without judgment because your kale-infused gluten-free muffins didn’t turn out, I’m also your girl.
What’s your mom style? Are there any other al-dente moms out there?
