What type of mom are you?

United States
June 12, 2007 1:16pm CST
So here's a question for all the moms. What type of mom are you? Over achiever? Over-reacting mom? Slacker mom? Laid back mom? Stressed out mom? Free spirited, wild child mom? As for me, I'd say that I'm a combo mom; part over reactor (I'm working on it) and the other part free spirit. I'm a paradox. When I first became a new mom, I was the classic over-reactor. I would get freaked out about everything. We're out of diapers! Oh, no, end of the world. Baby bottle fell on the floor. Call the cops! Of course, I think most of that was just post partum weirdness. I'm not that way anymore. Now, I'm fine, even if my three year old puts her doll in the toilet. I'm learning to pick my battles and let her have free range to be a kid. So, I guess I'm becoming the laid back mom. It fits my personality better. How about you? What's your mom style?
7 people like this
19 responses
@dani4082 (15)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I've got 2 boys ages 12 and 8 so at this point my life is a BTDT(been there done that) scenario. I have been peed on, puked on, pooped on, and yes bled on. At this stage in life if they are not drowning helplessly, do not have blood gushing from some body part or another, are not screaming bloody murder and dieing in the middle of the road well then they will be fine. And I don't mind getting right down in the dirt and playing with em. Battles picked some won some lost. My kids are fed clothed and have a roof over their head they really do not need more than that except all the love I can bestow upon them. I would walk through H#$$ for my kids if it was required of me. So while I am not laid back mom or over reactor mom or free spirit wild child mom or even super mom deluxe model I am exactly what my kids need.
@maehan (1439)
• United States
12 Jun 07
hello beautyqueen26, I am a little paranoid, always worrying about the education of the children after we have move from Singapore to US. Singapore education is pretty stressed and move pretty fast. US is more relax and creative and initiative. Thus, my sons being smart alex knowing that they play more in school. As a result, paranoid ME will give them extra home lesson which are the syllabus from Singapore and make them do. I am just worry that they unable to catch up or probably down grade if we return to Singapore.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jun 07
Hello! I'm the American version of you! I hope you don't mind me saying so. I'm not that confident that my little girl will get a quality education from local schools, either. So I am constantly tutoring her. We were able to get her a cheap second hand computer and some computer educational games for less than $100 at a local pawn shop. It's made all the difference in her level of development. There are many wonderful educational sites online that you can access for free. I have used many in my own daughters education. If you want, I can post some of my favorite links. Just let me know. Best of luck with your children. I'm sure, with your help, they will be well ready for any educational or life challenges that they may face. Better to be over prepared than over sorry! Please be well!
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jun 07
Hey ladies, I think I am all of the above! I saw how stressed out my children were going to school everyday unable to participate as a family in the evening, unable to participate in any sports or extra activities and I was so unhappy with the public education system that I currently homeschool my children. I want my children get an outstanding education while learning morals and values rather than popularity and vulgarities. I do allow them to play with whom they want to play with however I monitor their television and video games as well as their interactions with "schooled" children. That is actually a joke around my house because kids will be kids and they will pick up a variety of habits, phrases or the like from various places but my best friend likes to blame it on her "schooled" children. I am very demanding on my children but at the same time allow for flexibility. Children learn most of all from us the parent, and second from life. So long as we insist that they somehow get the basics so much other will follow. Maehan don't stress your children out with so much extra outside of school here in the US. If you go back to Singapore you will be able to catch them up so long as they are interested and smart you do not need to worry. If they require the extra great but I believe that pushing them too hard will cause an opposite reaction. Take it easy. You will do the best for them.
• Canada
13 Jun 07
I am a over protective mom but also laid back in some ways . I believe in talking to my children every day about what is going on in their lives and trying to take an active part in what is important to them . I believe in them making thier own decisions as long as they are not going to get hurt and am the type of parent who loves when my children are around . I miss them when they are not here and love summer vacation and days off as much as they do . I cried when my children started school and cried when I had to take down the crib . I just took down the crib for my baby a couple of months ago and when I was taking it down my seventeen year old wanted to know what was wrong and I told her that I would probably never have another baby in a crib again and to realize that they were all growing up so fast was just hard . She said but you still have the little one's with you for a long time yet and I said it wasn't the same that when I look at them I see how fast they grew and know how fast the time goes by with each of them as my youngest is two and my oldest is seventeen . It seems like only yesterday that I was holding my first child and today I have three older children and two little one's .
1 person likes this
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
13 Jun 07
lol! I would have to say I am a little of them all rolled into one. I have my moments of over=protective panic. I also have my moments of wanting my kids to be the best they can be, sometimes, I just let stuff go, sometimes I stress over situations, and sometimes, I just want to let lose and have fun with my kids. =)
1 person likes this
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I'm a frustrated mother. Reason being, when my girls was little, I was in a domestic situation, and I left even though my ex and his folks begged me to come back to him; I was too scared to and I caught it in divorce court. I was charged with deserting and ordered to pay child support. my girls were given to their father, and I settled for being a weekend mom. I tried to show my kids right from wrong, and for now, the jury is still out on that since their teenagers, but with all that has happened, I am at my wits end. i have a daughter who is graduating next year, and though I'll give her a present and all, I just don't want to see her graduate. This teenaged thing has me going so call me frustrated.
1 person likes this
@mr_ilham (1608)
• Indonesia
13 Jun 07
i am a man so i don't know that thank you http://mrezanailham.blogspot.com
• United States
12 Jun 07
I think I'm a little bit of everything. I over react if Alexi gets hurt (especially when she got her shots) and I'm a little laid back meaning I let her be her own self for a little and not smother her. But then again I slack off because sometime I forget she needs formula. Alexi is my first child and I think I'm doing pretty good though thus far.
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I'm a laid back mom through and through BUT I'm very protective of the kids...not in the sense of not letting them do things or go places etc but in the sense of if ppl mess with them I get very riled about it and stir up trouble..i'm very much a free spirit type and encourage my kids to be the same way...The only "moulding" I've done with my kids is them having respect and compassion as well as understanding and things of that nature... Its worked out very well for us too even though there were many naysayers along the way (mainly my family who are all eating crow these days ;-))
@vanezzyi (206)
• Philippines
13 Jun 07
i will be a 1st time mom this coming september. im scared that i will not be a great mother. Im scared to have this child. im just fresh out of college and then this responsibility come to my life. I hope i will be the best mom for my kid. =)
@34momma (13882)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I am part laid back mom with a hint of you ain't to big or to old to get your butt kicked mom. i have fun with my kids, but don't cross the line to being friends with them. we come from a long line of very funny people so there are lots of laughs going on in my home. i don't over-react, but i do have to learn to listen just a bit more. there is always room for improvement
@apsara60 (6610)
• Israel
13 Jun 07
I think I am over reactor mom........ I am so much worried about them that some day I may get attack just for nothing.....If sometimes I get call from their school, even before hearing what is it....I panic so much that my heart skips a beat, and I start screaming.... what happend!!!!.....are they ok!!!!...while the call is just to remind that there is a parents meeting in the evening. Same thing if call comes from family doctor, just to remind about appointment etc.....but before hearing the matter, I start shivering. I try to contorl myself and change my nature......but most of the time I cannot. You will be surprised if I tell you my children are of age 23 and 16..........lol. Are you laughing now. Well that's me.
• United States
12 Jun 07
I think we grow and evolve as mothers-with our children. I would consider myself a laid back and free spirited mom. I always try to let my kids be who they need to be-themselves-even if I don't necessarily agree or understand. I think we can get caught up in the "over achiever" mode very easily, if we're not careful. We want to make sure our kids have everything they could possibly need to succeed; and that makes for some "dog-tired" days-to say the least. I've done a lot for my kids, but I also tried to make them do for themselves what and when they could. I don't think you do them any favors by doing everything for them.
@youless (112047)
• Guangzhou, China
13 Jun 07
I think I am a nice mom. I work hard so that I can earn more money for my little child's future. I don't spoil him or yell to him. I tell him to be reasonable. It's impossible for me to hit him anyway. He's my angel. I can sacrifice for him.
• Philippines
13 Jun 07
I think i'm a combinations of everything. I worry too much sometimes, but i can also a slacker and a laid back. Free spirited too and wild at times. It's like i can never settle to be a just one type of mom because my kids are now in the age where curiosity always gets the better of them. Also my eldest is getting naughtier, my girl likes to do what her older brother is doing. And my younger son who is turning 2 loves to go up and down the stairs on his own. I guess i could say that if there's one thing i commend myself for is the endurance and patience i acquired since i became a mom. :)
@toe_ster (770)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I think I am the stressed out mom. And not necessarily because of them. There is just so much going on right now that it gets into everything. I am usually or wanting to be the laid back mom. BUt mostly I am stressed over everything and my porr kids suffer through it. BUt the fun laid back lets play soccer in the house mom occasionally emerges. We all like her better.
@bodomgirl (1614)
• Italy
12 Jun 07
i hope to be a very nice mom a day..
@KaMlBob (786)
• United States
13 Jun 07
My kids range from 23 to 4 years old. When I was younger, I think I was strict, supporting, tolerant, patient. Now I am more relaxed and laid back. Still strict and I still worry. My first four have turned out so well I think I am more confident than I was before. My youngest is my only girl. I think I will be more protective of her than I am my boys!
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
13 Jun 07
After being a mom for twenty-five years, I have become pretty much a laid back mom. Now being a Grandma is a whole different ballgame, if one of them gets hurt, I panic. LOL
@micaella (396)
• Philippines
13 Jun 07
Good question dear! Just like you I a king combo type Mom too. Since Since I become a mother I need to be a mother and father to my kids since my husband is not with as always. I used to be very careful for my kids and perfectionist for my kids stuff. from the diapers, babys clothes, baby powder etc. its easy for me to get angry if my babys closet looks mess so i always scold their yaya who is responsible to takecare of my kids clothes, till now that their 6 year old and my eldest is 7, but I always tried to be a good friend to them, taking my free time to play with them. I cooked food for them, I am the one who help and teach them asking about their school homeworks, we even sleep together in sofabed if we watched dvd movies, Every saturday on their restday from school i give them a time for shopping or just for window shopping(stroll). Every sunday we used to attend mass if possible, I bring them too seaside every afternoon if we have a time or chance. I dont usually get angry to them caused my kids follow me what ever i say, they can have whatever they want from me especially toys but they never been a spoiled brat.... they just say OK if i say NO! I used to worked before as a secretary in a law firm while attending my responsibility to my daughter but when i got pregnant to my son, I need to quit to my job and just to stay plain housewife since my husband always in business trip or sometimes we need to follow him wherever he destined for his job. Its really kind a tiring life i have - but because of my kids I dont mined all the problems we had - (almost lol)
@Gorgeous24 (1091)
• United States
13 Jun 07
Im totally the laid back mom now BUT when she was first born I tried so hard to be "perfect" at everything I did and I realized that doesnt exist. So now that shes 4 I just let her do her own thing and we have alot of fun together..I dont worry about her getting her clothes dirty, or I dont freak out if she doesnt want to eat her food.. when she is hungry she will let me know., Oh and I definitely dont freak out when she takes her crayon and writes all over her white walls because I just whip out my Mr.Clean sponge and it comes right off..have you ever tried that? I swear its the best thing ever invented..it gets out everything!