There was a time when I was a hesitant new mother, and the idea of having my parenting methods scrutinized in public made me want to disappear. I envisioned myself as a laid-back mom with well-behaved children (ha!), convinced that the horror stories about tantrums at the grocery store or mishaps at the park wouldn’t apply to us. That was my naive view.
However, motherhood had other challenges in store for me, and I’ve stopped worrying about others’ opinions. Now, I proudly embrace being that vigilant mom who isn’t afraid to assert myself in any situation, regardless of the audience, and I genuinely don’t care about their judgments.
Just this past weekend, my kids attended a birthday party at an indoor pool. With winter in full swing here in Maine, the thought of splashing around brought them pure joy. Before we even arrived, I established the rules in the car. “Listen up, kids: no running, no throwing, and stick close to the other kids while you’re in the water, understood?” I was met with a mix of eye rolls and reluctant nods. My children are well-acquainted with my pre-party pep talks.
An hour into the festivities, I clapped my hands loudly (they couldn’t hear me over the excited shouts of 50 other kids) and used my firm mom voice to call out my children’s full names. They paused and swam over. “If I see you dunking each other again, we’re leaving, capiche?” I noticed a few disapproving glances from other parents, but here’s the thing: I’m responsible for those two little lives in that pool, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe—even if it means being the frustrated mom issuing commands.
When my eldest comes home from school upset because older kids on the bus were teasing younger ones, guess what? I’m the mom who contacts the bus company to address the issue. I won’t let my child live in fear because some bully gets his kicks from picking on kindergartners.
My children aren’t allowed to play with realistic-looking toy guns, and I limit their access to junk food, so they have to ask for snacks outside of the fruit bowl. They’ve never seen toy commercials because they only watch PBS. It’s my responsibility as their parent to filter these influences and expose them to what I deem appropriate.
I don’t enforce these rules to be an overbearing parent; rather, it’s my duty to ensure their safety and provide them with a childhood that fosters their growth into well-rounded individuals. So, when I hear about a kid hitting my child—even if it’s a friend, and even if it’s just “rough-housing”—you can bet I’ll be contacting the teachers and other parents right away.
When my kids are sick, they stay home. Any sign of fever, vomiting, or fatigue that isn’t just typical child antics lands them on the couch with a cozy blanket.
I admire moms who live by the motto, “I’m not your friend; I’m your mother.” I resonate with that. I own it, too. My kids will only be young for a short time, and my role is to keep them safe, provide opportunities for growth, and guide them as they navigate their way to independence.
I’m an overprotective mom because, like any parent, I love my children fiercely and want to keep them as safe as possible for as long as I can. My priority isn’t making friends with other parents or being popular with my kids. My job is to be the Capital “M” Mom.
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In summary, being a protective mom means prioritizing my children’s safety above all else, even if it earns me a few disapproving looks from others. My goal is to provide a nurturing environment that allows them to grow into healthy, happy individuals.