8 Profiles of Mothers
I should be doing dishes right now. Or laundry. But I do not feel like it. Therefore, in honor of Mother's Day, I thought I would compose a list of the different kinds of Moms I have either encountered or observed. Keep in mind, this is not an all inclusive list. Moreover, these descriptions are extreme depictions of a particular type of mom. All the mothers I know are a blend of several types. Though I am sure you can think of specific mothers when you read the profiles.
Scheduled Mom
Scheduled Mom believes in structure. Her children have specific wake-up times, nap times, meal times, and bedtimes. She is very organized and documents poignant details of her child's life. If you ask her, "Does your child drink whole milk?", she will not only answer in the affirmative but also inform you of how many ounces her child consumes. Scheduled Mom hangs a well-marked calendar in a prominent place and enjoys receiving organizational paraphernalia for gifts. She keeps up-to-date with all her children's appointments and books them several months in advance.
Organic Mom
Organic Mom could be the Green Party's poster Mom. Her children consume organic fair and she makes her own baby food. She frequents farmers' markets and health food stores (though ideally, Organic Mom would plant her own garden). She also uses natural source cleaners and products in her home. In addition, Organic Mom is very environmentally friendly and takes "reducing, reusing, and recycling" extremely seriously. Do not be surprised if Organic Mom purchases cloth diapers, washable wipes, and clothing made with natural fibres. She is also a huge proponent of breastfeeding and will breastfeed her babies beyond the first year.
Sanguine Mom
Sanguine Mom is the mother of socialization. She actively pursues opportunities to interact with other mothers and babies. She is often "out and about" and could tell you were all the programs associated with parenting are located. She will be found at Baby and Book Time at libraries, Toddler and Mommy Swim classes, and the local Mom's group. Her child usually learns to "nap on the go" as his or her Mother interacts with the people in her life. Sanguine Mom's children learn to socialize with other children at a very young age.
Education Mom
Education Mom is not necessarily your local school teacher. She can be anyone who values instilling basic skills in her children's lives prior to formal schooling. Her home is full of books, educational toys, and flashcards. She labels items in her home so her child can learn to associated objects with vocabulary. She finds opportunities to count with her children. She exposes her children to classical music and limits her child's television/computer gaming time. Education Mom's children usually know their ABCs and numbers until 100 by the time they hit kindergarten. And they often can read.
Research Mom
Research Mom is extremely well read. She spends countless hours familiarizing herself with the current information on child rearing. She can tell you how to avoid SIDs, the pros and cons of immunization, and the best "first food" for babies. Furthermore, she can provided a detailed description of Attachment Parenting in comparison to the "Baby Wise" techniques. She knows what kind of baby gear to purchase and were to find it at a reasonable price. She is the Maven of Motherhood.
Trendy Mom
Trendy Mom looks fabulous! And so does her child! She is well dressed and her make-up is flawless. She sports fantastic hair styles and professional gel nails. Her children wear well coordinated clothes and often have the latest toys. Her children's rooms are tastefully decorated and all the baby gear matches. She also believes in keeping fit and most probably owns a gym membership. However, Trendy Mom is not necessarily wealthy. She can be very adept at knowing when the Gap or The Children's Place is having a clearance sale.
Spiritual Mom
Spiritual Mom is quite concerned about the condition of her child's spirit. She believes in providing her child with quiet reflective times without the distraction of music, television, the computer, or toys. She teaches her child to listen and be aware of the subtleties in his or her environment. For instance, when she takes her child for a walk, she is often silent, allowing her child to observe and listen. Spiritual Mom may or may not be a member of an organized religion. But if she is, her children are encouraged to participate in community worship. Furthermore, the importance of prayer and sacred scripture reading is encouraged at a very young age.
Fun Mom
Fun Mom's home is an absolute disaster! Toys are strewn on the carpet. Dishes are piled up on the counter. Remnants of the afternoon snack are on the floor. But giggling is heard in the background because she is making silly faces in the mirror with her child or creating mud pies in the outdoor sun. Fun Mom is more interested in spontaneous play with her children than schedules or cleanliness. She is a child herself and loves to view the world through the eyes of a toddler. There are times when she shrugs of "inappropriate behaviour" as a child's attempt to explore his or her world. While she is not a firm disciplinarian, she will draw the line when the "fun" becomes unhealthy.
I am sure there are other descriptions, but these are some of the types I have encountered to some degree. Despite our personal and sometimes humorous idiosyncrasies as Mothers, we all have one thing in common: We love our children. That is the most important regardless of what type we are! May God bless you and yours this Mother's Day weekend.
Scheduled Mom
Scheduled Mom believes in structure. Her children have specific wake-up times, nap times, meal times, and bedtimes. She is very organized and documents poignant details of her child's life. If you ask her, "Does your child drink whole milk?", she will not only answer in the affirmative but also inform you of how many ounces her child consumes. Scheduled Mom hangs a well-marked calendar in a prominent place and enjoys receiving organizational paraphernalia for gifts. She keeps up-to-date with all her children's appointments and books them several months in advance.
Organic Mom
Organic Mom could be the Green Party's poster Mom. Her children consume organic fair and she makes her own baby food. She frequents farmers' markets and health food stores (though ideally, Organic Mom would plant her own garden). She also uses natural source cleaners and products in her home. In addition, Organic Mom is very environmentally friendly and takes "reducing, reusing, and recycling" extremely seriously. Do not be surprised if Organic Mom purchases cloth diapers, washable wipes, and clothing made with natural fibres. She is also a huge proponent of breastfeeding and will breastfeed her babies beyond the first year.
Sanguine Mom
Sanguine Mom is the mother of socialization. She actively pursues opportunities to interact with other mothers and babies. She is often "out and about" and could tell you were all the programs associated with parenting are located. She will be found at Baby and Book Time at libraries, Toddler and Mommy Swim classes, and the local Mom's group. Her child usually learns to "nap on the go" as his or her Mother interacts with the people in her life. Sanguine Mom's children learn to socialize with other children at a very young age.
Education Mom
Education Mom is not necessarily your local school teacher. She can be anyone who values instilling basic skills in her children's lives prior to formal schooling. Her home is full of books, educational toys, and flashcards. She labels items in her home so her child can learn to associated objects with vocabulary. She finds opportunities to count with her children. She exposes her children to classical music and limits her child's television/computer gaming time. Education Mom's children usually know their ABCs and numbers until 100 by the time they hit kindergarten. And they often can read.
Research Mom
Research Mom is extremely well read. She spends countless hours familiarizing herself with the current information on child rearing. She can tell you how to avoid SIDs, the pros and cons of immunization, and the best "first food" for babies. Furthermore, she can provided a detailed description of Attachment Parenting in comparison to the "Baby Wise" techniques. She knows what kind of baby gear to purchase and were to find it at a reasonable price. She is the Maven of Motherhood.
Trendy Mom
Trendy Mom looks fabulous! And so does her child! She is well dressed and her make-up is flawless. She sports fantastic hair styles and professional gel nails. Her children wear well coordinated clothes and often have the latest toys. Her children's rooms are tastefully decorated and all the baby gear matches. She also believes in keeping fit and most probably owns a gym membership. However, Trendy Mom is not necessarily wealthy. She can be very adept at knowing when the Gap or The Children's Place is having a clearance sale.
Spiritual Mom
Spiritual Mom is quite concerned about the condition of her child's spirit. She believes in providing her child with quiet reflective times without the distraction of music, television, the computer, or toys. She teaches her child to listen and be aware of the subtleties in his or her environment. For instance, when she takes her child for a walk, she is often silent, allowing her child to observe and listen. Spiritual Mom may or may not be a member of an organized religion. But if she is, her children are encouraged to participate in community worship. Furthermore, the importance of prayer and sacred scripture reading is encouraged at a very young age.
Fun Mom
Fun Mom's home is an absolute disaster! Toys are strewn on the carpet. Dishes are piled up on the counter. Remnants of the afternoon snack are on the floor. But giggling is heard in the background because she is making silly faces in the mirror with her child or creating mud pies in the outdoor sun. Fun Mom is more interested in spontaneous play with her children than schedules or cleanliness. She is a child herself and loves to view the world through the eyes of a toddler. There are times when she shrugs of "inappropriate behaviour" as a child's attempt to explore his or her world. While she is not a firm disciplinarian, she will draw the line when the "fun" becomes unhealthy.
I am sure there are other descriptions, but these are some of the types I have encountered to some degree. Despite our personal and sometimes humorous idiosyncrasies as Mothers, we all have one thing in common: We love our children. That is the most important regardless of what type we are! May God bless you and yours this Mother's Day weekend.