It may start innocently — maybe you roll your eyes to your BFF from your mom group when “that mom” shows up to the playground. You know what I mean… that Helicopter Mom.. or that Organic Mom or that Stay at Home Mom or that Working Mom or that Stroller-Free Mom and so on…. Maybe it’s a dad, not a mom. Maybe we shouldn’t classify other moms or dads or shame them because they are different from who we are and what we choose to be. I remember being a new mom 11 years ago. Breastfeeding was what I had planned on doing. But it took a while for my milk to come in and my son didn’t have a good latch. I borrowed a breast pump from a friend and still had to supplement with formula while trying to nurse. My son went on a nursing strike at 4 months old and after pumping for a few weeks, my milk supply still wasn’t enough and I had to go to formula full time. I did feel judged at times by other moms for using formula and even though breastfeeding was something that I desperately wanted to do, it just wasn’t working with my son. I felt like a failure and would try to hide when I was feeding him outside my home, fearful that I would be shamed for feeding him a bottle. I even bottle fed under a nursing cover at the park one day because I felt like the other moms were judging me. I felt the mom shaming. It stunk. There should be no mom shaming – we should turn the labels around and show moms love.
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Mom shaming has gotten even worse since then. Moms are getting judged so much more, in person and on social media. I’m actually happy that I wasn’t on Facebook, twitter, YouTube or Instagram, or my blog back then – I don’t think I would have handled online social shaming well. When did other moms think it was okay to mom shame other moms? We’re all moms, and we should support each other.
Shouldn’t we be supportive of all moms, instead of mom shaming? Mom shaming has become a mainstream issue that’s affecting moms everywhere, especially millennials who are entering prime parenting years. Almost no mom is immune – in fact, a recent survey by Beech-Nut found that nearly 80 percent of millennial moms have experienced some form of mom-shaming.
That’s why, just in time for Mother’s Day, I’m really pleased to team up with Beech-Nut on their an anti-mom shaming effort, called “Turn The Labels Around.” Check out the video below.
Survey Findings
- 68% of millennial moms agree that mom shaming is more of an issue now than it was five years ago.
- 78% of moms have experienced shaming or judging by their own mom or family
- 65% of moms witnessed moms other moms shamed on social media and 43% have experienced shaming themselves on social media.
- Nearly 60 percent of moms feel less confident after being judged by other moms.
So, let’s change this, shall we? I’m going to ask you to reach out to a mom you admire via social media telling them what a great job they’re doing or what you admire using #ShowMomsLove. Please tag @themamamaven so I can see you! Moms, We Should Turn the Labels Around – No More Mom Shaming #ShowMomsLoveNo More Mom Shaming, Let’s Turn the Labels Around #ShowMomsLove
There is nothing worse than mom shaming!! The world would be a better place if little girls did not judge and turn into women that feel okay to shame each other.
This is a great campaign!
Great post! I think when people”mom shame” other moms, they are projecting their own insecurities!
Mom shaming is SUCH a thing and it is REALLY annoying. I try to ignore the nonsense but sometimes it’s really hard to shut out. Thank you for bringing attention to this important issue in our community!
Mom shaming is the worst!!! I just don’t get it, you don’t have to prove yourself as a better mom, we’re all struggling, it takes a village and no one benefits from putting eachother down or judging each other 🙁