Good Mommy or Bad Mommy - take the test

So apparently talking on your cell-phone and using a stroller past the time your child knows how to walk, makes you a bad mommy. Or so Jane Brody of the NY times says. Apparently where she lives in Brooklyn, all the moms are pushing their babies and older toddlers in strollers while talking on their Blackberries or listening to their iPods and ignoring/neglecting their children.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/health/29brod.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=health

I think Ms. Brody is a little out of touch (taking a child who JUST learned how to walk to the mall or an airport WITHOUT a stroller is mommy suicide, and when she had young children there were no cellphones or mp3 players, so how can she know she would be any different?) 

But this is not the only thing that makes mommies bad. All you have to do is read a parenting magazine, talk to your doctor, have a discussion with your mom or mother-in-law, or talk to another mother, and you will feel bad about how you parent.

So here is the test: GOOD MOMMY OR BAD MOMMY

#1. Where does your child sleep

a)crib/his own bed

b)co-sleep

#2. Did you 

a)Breastfeed 

or 

b)Formula feed?

#3. What do your feed your child

a)pre-packed meals, store bought babyfood

b)home cooked organic meals

#4. Do you

a)vaccinate your children

or

b)not vaccinate your children

#5. How often is your child in daycare?

a)never, I am a stay at home mom

b)very rarely, I work part time

c)Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

d)never, I have a nanny

#6. Are you

a)a single parent

or

b)a married/common law parent

Results:

#1. Where does your child sleep

a)crib/his own bed - BAD MOMMY

How can you leave your child alone all night or put them in a sleep cage. Your child will have separation issues and will always have sleeping issues.

b)co-sleep - BAD MOMMY

How selfish of you to bring your child to bed with you. You could roll and smother your child at any time and you severely hurt your personal/sexual life when your child in in your bed. A bed is for sleep and sex, not a resting place for the entire family.

#2. Did/Do you 

a)Breastfeed - BAD MOMMY

While you did pass on some healthy food and immunities to your child, you forced them into an unhealthy bond with you. These children will have severe separation anxiety and will have concentration issues in school

b)Formula feed? - BAD MOMMY

How could you be so selfish and not breastfeed? You would rather feed your child artificially created food than latch a baby onto your breast? (that IS what it is there for) Your children will obese and be less intelligent than breastfed babies

#3. What do your feed your child

a)pre-packed meals, store bought babyfood - BAD MOMMY

You stock your child full of preservatives and second rate food. Your child will either be malnourished, lack essential vitamins or be obese.

b)home cooked organic meals - BAD MOMMY

You waste all your time cooking instead of playing and teaching your children. You also create picky eaters when you only feed a small variation of foods.

#4. Do you

a)vaccinate your children - BAD MOMMY

You put your child at risk for Autism! You sadistic woman!

b)not vaccinate your children - BAD MOMMY

You are the reason disease and sickness spreads across the world.

#5. How often is your child in daycare?

a)never, I am a stay at home mom - BAD MOMMY

Your child will not be properly socialized and will have an unhealthy attachment to you.

b)rarely, I work part time - BAD MOMMY

Your child will have severe separation issues and they never know when you will be with them or when you won't, or how long you will be gone.

c)Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm - BAD MOMMY

Your child will grow up and not know you. This will lead to identity issues and they will have trouble forming loving bonds

d)never, I have a nanny - BAD MOMMY

Your child will grow to view your nanny as their motherly figure. They will not be able to form a loving bond with you.

#6. Are you

a)a single parent - BAD MOMMY

You do not give your child enough outlets for love, and introducing many different people into their lives (your dates) confuses them.

b)a married/common law parent - BAD MOMMY

You do not show by example that there are many different forms of a 'family'. You give them divided attention (between themselves and your spouse) and you no doubt-ably fight in front of them, which isn't healthy for children to view.

OK, so hopefully by now you realize that I made that whole quiz up. There is so much differing information out there that no matter what you do, you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. I think that as long as you raise a healthy, happy, social child that you are doing a good job. Don't let anyone sway you from what you think is the right thing to do for your child, because let's face it: YOU ARE THE MOM. You know what is best for your own child, and a comfortable, confident mommy is a GOOD mommy!!!