I'm Thankful:: Parenting in a World of Sanctimommies

Every other day it seems like another horrifying situation happens relating to children and their parents. Between a toddler falling into a gorilla enclosure and a sweet boy's life ending too soon after an alligator snatched him out of a Disney freaking resort the news is overrun with stories that don't always have happy endings. Those stories are followed up by articles on all platforms of social media and then ripped apart by all the parents out there who think they are doing a better job. I'm here today to tell you how thankful I am that my family has never been in a situation where my skills as a parent have been ripped apart in the media. I am also here to say that I am one of those moms that put only the good* on my social media accounts. I, for one, don't want to remember how horrible of a parent I have been, so I'm sure my kids don't want that reminder either.  {*mostly}

Here are some of the things that I am thankful haven't been caught up in the limelight of all the sanctimommies out there.

~I am thankful that my parents never had to deal with the side eyes from parents as they took a toddler into the donut shop at 3 in the morning. What the other parents didn't know is that after all ER trips for asthma I was treated to a donut. And that is pretty much all I remember from those ordeals. #worthit

~I am thankful that no photos of my parents were ever snapped as they bought cases of baby aspirin and put on blast for "drugging" their son. What wasn't seen was a toddler who couldn't even get up and walk because he was in so much pain from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and the aspirin was the only thing that eased the pain.

~I am thankful that the day I thought I left my toddler in the car no one was watching. Thankfully I had, but I could not for the life of me even remember dropping him off.

~I am thankful that the day I had to drop a screaming, maniacal child into a shower fully clothed no one documented it. Free spirited children are for the birds y'all.

~I am thankful when my youngest had another ear infection the hounds were not called in because "breast is best" and "it wouldn't be happening if you were nursing." Even though I was...

~I am thankful that those who don't personally know me have had the common courtesy to not delve into my past and dig up all my secrets and determine whether or not I am a fit parent.

I could go on for days on my flaws but I'll stop. Parents out there please stop passing judgment on things you know nothing about. We can always one-up another parent but it isn't necessary. On the worst day(s) of their lives it is even worse. The old adage is true, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.