Have You Gone To the Parenting Dark Side?
Posted February 20th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
It’s perfectly acceptable to own your identity as a parent. You take it seriously; there’s no harm in that. So what if you bought fourteen pregnancy and new mommy books before you even gave birth? It’s called enthusiasm! You only want to be the best mom you can be and if that means giving up late nights at da club, your penchant for expensive leather miniskirts and the ability to drive a two-seater convertible, you’re okay with that. Sure, there was a time when the only reason you’d be walking around during the day in old yoga pants was because you were going to yoga. But hey, yoga pants are super comfy and they are the only thing that fit you right now.
I get it. Trust me. I live it. Times have changed and you have changed with them and that’s okay!
But there’s a fine line between embracing your role as a parent and skipping your ass right over to the dark side, as if the old you (who once laughed in the face of magazines’ Cute Baby Contests and never thought about nursery “themes”) never existed. The following warning signs can help you see if you’ve completely lost any remnants of the old you. If so, it might be time for a good old fashioned night on the town raising hell. Just make sure you’re home by ten because oh God, six a.m. comes so damn early.
Want more from me on Babble? Try Open Letting To Snooki’s Fetus
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20 Comments
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Top 8 Grossest Parenting Jobs | Baby On Bored: Electric Boogaloo commented on Apr 02 12 at 9:11 pmErin@MommyontheSpot commented on Feb 20 12 at 2:47 pmUhhh, the whole going pee pee thing, that *might* be me. I’m going to use it as an excuse to go out and raise hell for a night!
V_T commented on Feb 20 12 at 5:59 pmWhew! I was able to answer NO to all! Maybe I’d've said YES to the parade one a few years back when it was fun to take a kid to one, but after 8 years of being a parent, I’m done with enjoying them! And…in an age when a family in Thailand can fit a family of 6 on the back of a moped, I could never ever rationalize buying a minivan for my one kid.
Jenn commented on Feb 21 12 at 11:11 amThe minivan… We have a dog too (does that help my case?!) Too many 8+hr trips to go visit family in Ohio trying to cram into a Jeep Liberty! My stipulation on crossing over: Had to be black with tinted out windows so no one can see me or they think I’m with the Secret Service ;)
Sue commented on Feb 21 12 at 11:18 amThere is hope…. I’d forgotten about the Wiggles, but I did used to look forward to watching them when the kids were little!
Amy Edwards commented on Feb 22 12 at 12:01 amAnthony, right?
Courtney Rundell commented on Feb 22 12 at 2:24 amI rule! No, no, nope not me!
Yet.
He’s not even 6-months-old.
Dammit.
kristy commented on Feb 22 12 at 6:01 pmmy answer is no to all of them and the only reason i have a mini van is because i have four kids 6 and under
Erin commented on Feb 22 12 at 6:01 pmYay I said no to all of them! well we do have a minivan but three kids and a large dog I kinda needed it
Lindsey Bozeman commented on Feb 22 12 at 6:30 pmI have never, ever told anyone I needed to pee-pee. I merely told several ladies I barely knew that I needed to potty….close enough to earn a night out, I think!
MShep commented on Feb 22 12 at 11:17 pmJust 1 maybe and no to the rest even with 4. The only maybe depending on what year it was, if I was out with the girls and how many Martinis were involved. Not a regular habit though.
Alley commented on Feb 23 12 at 3:50 pmI don’t say “I have to go pee-pee” but occasionally I will say “potty”. Wiggles, psh of course! My little brother is only 12, so they were hawt back when he was a baby and watching them which meant that I -had- to watch them too. Daddy issues maybe, Idk. I hated my diaper bag, otherwise I probably would still be toting it around. If it counts, the bag (tote… bag) that I carry around is just as bulky. Whenever I hear a baby crying or a kid shouting “Mom!” I don’t lactate (lol) because I never breastfed, unfortunately, but I do feel instantly on-edge like, “I should go tend to that”. And as for the toilet-thing, I had no idea those even existed. Maybe that makes me a terrible mom. lol.
mbaker commented on Feb 23 12 at 8:49 pmV_T…
I’ve seen entire families do that in India. I’ve also seen said mopeds wipe out without anyone helping them and instead driving around them while honking at them. It’s not surprising the country leads the world in traffic fatalities. I’m nervous about taking the kids to India for that reason. I feel much safer with them in my minivan.
Anne commented on Feb 24 12 at 9:53 amI only have 2 kids and I have a minivan. I feel guilty about having an IUD when I look in the rearview mirror and see that three more kids could fit back there. OK, four kids, but I prefer the middle seat taken out.
JCF commented on Feb 26 12 at 6:11 pmToo funny! I only say yes to one of them–the toilet lock. I also think it is annoying, and we never had one with our first two kids, but my third was constantly splashing in the toilet and throwing things in. And yes, it is the one guests use, but we only have one bathroom, so…too bad.
Katy E commented on Feb 27 12 at 9:56 amI said yes to several of them. However, have you ever been to a parade in New Orleans? A great time, I promise.
Sami commented on Apr 08 12 at 10:06 pmThank goodness! I only answered yes to 1 1/2. But I do like parades! Even without a kid. And I didn’t say “pee pee” while out for martinis, but I may have said “potty” while out for margaritas :)
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