Parenting Guru: That Mom, everyone knows at least one

Mommyfriend


I know "That Mom", like I actually know her.

I first met her back when she was just a newlywed, seemingly the kind of girl without That Mom tendencies. Today, and one child later, she's evolved into That Mom. You know, the mom who knows better than everyone. Nevermind the fact that every child is different, nevermind the fact that I've been a mother longer, nevermind, nevermind, nevermind; she simply knows better.

It came as no surprise when she told me her 3 year old son eats only organic. It came as no surprise when she told me she's raising him sugar-free. It came as no surprise when she gave him an unusual name and spelled it with lots of silent letters. Her son is smart and sweet but I fear for his normalcy in the wake of That Mom.

That Mom doesn't know much about my children, probably because she never asks. Maybe it's better that way since she's already told me my choices to circumcise and immunize were "unfortunate".

It's hard to like That Mom.
Now That Mom is pregnant again with the worst morning sickness, worst migraines and most severe exhaustion ever experienced in the history of pregnancy. Aside from her obvious martyrdom, she has the most amazing husband who has ever husbanded, has the best OB who ever OB'd and will give birth at the highest-ranked hospital this side of the Mississippi.

She suffers more, knows more and mothers better than you do, I do, or anybody do.

But what do you even do with a mom like this? Sure, I try to limit my exposure to That Mom but there are times when planning my escape is an impossibility. I suspect she's unaware that she's That Mom because she told me recently making friends with fellow moms was difficult. I simply couldn't bring myself to tell her why that might be.

Do you know That Mom?

Mommyfriend goes by Lori Garcia in real life and is a Shine Parenting Guru. She writes at www.mommyfriend.com where she's busy finding perfection in imperfection daily. When she's not folding laundry she's a Featured Parenting Contributor for Associated Content for Yahoo!