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Parenting

20th Mar 2019

Mum’s open letter about why she’s proud to be a ‘bad mom’ is a must-read

“If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been called a ‘bad mom’….”

A fed up mum-of-two has put together a list of everything she is tired of being criticised over as a parent.

Florida-based fitness blogger Sia Cooper, who runs the Instagram account The Diary of a Fit Mommy, pointed out that motherhood is “not a one size fits all”, urging other parents not to be judgemental.

She began the post by explaining:

“If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been called a ‘bad mom’, I would be soooo rich!

“It seems almost impossible to be a textbook or politically correct good mom these days because everywhere you turn another mom is judging your parenting choices.”

View this post on Instagram

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been called a “bad mom,” I would be soooo rich! It seems almost impossible to be a textbook or politically correct good mom these days because everywhere you turn another mom is judging your parenting choices. Am I right? I’ve been called a bad mom for: Workout out during pregnancy. Working out while having kids… period. For caring about my looks and health. Working out in Target. Using canned goods and plastic crockpot liners. Having tattoos and piercings. Enjoying wine every now and then. For letting my kids use technology. For letting my kids have sugar and happy meals occasionally. For not “covering up” around my kids. For running a full time business from home. For co-sleeping with my kids. For collecting sports cars and motorcycles aka having a hobby. For taking time for myself. For having abs. I’ve learned that the true “bad moms” out there are the ones who constantly tear other moms down by judging them. Those moms are the ones who are truly insecure and have strong feelings of inadequacy because why else would they do that? Misery loves company. There’s no one right way to parent or to be a mom. We all are running in the same race and doing the best that we can. Motherhood is not a one size fits all-what works for one family may not work for the next. So who are we to judge another mom’s choices or reasoning? Being a mom is hard enough and if all the following make me a “bad mom” then I’ll gladly wear it proudly! Here’s to all the bad moms out there. Follow @badmomconfessions to submit a confession or read other anonymous mothers’ spills! @todayshow @goodmorningamerica @theviewabc @thetalkcbs @theellenshow

A post shared by SIA | FITNESS WORKOUTS RECIPES (@diaryofafitmommyofficial) on

She went on to list a number of the things she says people have called her a ‘bad mom’ for, including “taking time for myself”, “letting my kids use technology”, “working out while having kids”, and for “letting my kids have sugar and happy meals occasionally.”

She continued:

“I’ve learned that the true ‘bad moms’ out there are the ones who constantly tear other moms down by judging them.

“Those moms are the ones who are truly insecure and have strong feelings of inadequacy because why else would they do that? Misery loves company.

“There’s no one right way to parent or to be a mom. We all are running in the same race and doing the best that we can.

View this post on Instagram

Can I just take a minute to say WOW! ?The “bad mom” post that I made last week went VIRAL and stirred up so many conversations around mom-shaming and judgement against moms altogether. I couldn’t be more thankful for the awesome comments, messages, and likes that it had received. Therefore, this is “part 2” of that post where I wanna expand a bit. In my last post, I mentioned several ways that I’ve been judged against as a mom and mainly it’s because I find the time to workout. I’ve been called selfish a thousand times because I choose to make fitness a priority as a mom. I’ve been told that my kids are probably neglected and that I put them off on a nanny. The hateful comments normally come from other moms who can’t or won’t put forth the same effort for whatever reason. I’ve also been judged for working out during pregnancy and received hateful messages saying my baby was going to die and get shaken up in the womb. I’ve been told my baby would have brain damage. I had gone viral during pregnancy for maintaining my 6 pack so some people commented that my abs were going to choke my baby. Yes I’m dead serious guys. And of course there’s the Target workout judgement where I filmed a fun and playful workout video while shopping at Target that went viral last year and people called me a lunatic and crazy. My point is? You can’t please everyone and y’all… other moms are the WORST! You’d think that moms would support one another instead of tearing each other apart. It seems like you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. If another mom or a person in general wants to call ME a “bad mom” -vain, selfish, whatever- for putting my health first and for “having abs” then so be it! I encourage you all to take what you’ve been called a bad mom for and wear it proud. Own it! To the haters, you can kiss my abs ? Being a mom isn’t easy and there is no wrong way to parent IF your kids are loved, healthy, and being taken care of. ??‍♀️ Am I right? Follow @badmomconfessions to share your bad mom moments to be shared anonymously and to read other mom’s confessions! #worldsokayestmom @todayshow @goodmorningamerica @theviewabc @thetalkcbs @theellenshow @scarymommy

A post shared by SIA | FITNESS WORKOUTS RECIPES (@diaryofafitmommyofficial) on

“Motherhood is not a one size fits all-what works for one family may not work for the next. So who are we to judge another mom’s choices or reasoning?

“Being a mom is hard enough and if all the following make me a ‘bad mom’ then I’ll gladly wear it proudly!

“Here’s to all the bad moms out there.”