Have you ever encountered one of those crunchy moms in the produce aisle? You know the type: perusing organic fruits, passionately discussing environmental conservation with her young child, and lamenting about GMOs? (Guilty as charged! Though I recognize that not all crunchy moms are as intense as I am.) Or perhaps you’ve had a negative encounter with one that left a lasting impression? From the perspective of a self-identified crunchy mom, here are seven truths we might not openly admit.
- Not All Crunchy Moms Are Our Favorites
We totally understand the frustrations. There’s nothing more grating than someone interrupting your conversation to condescendingly ask why your child isn’t enrolled in a nature meditation class or berating you for vaccinating your kids or allowing them to indulge in GMO ice cream on their birthday. We often share an eye roll and mentally recite calming mantras. While not all crunchy moms are insufferable, some really do get on our nerves— and we stand in solidarity with all you non-crunchy moms on this. - Grocery Shopping Can Be Overwhelming
If you see us at the grocery store looking frazzled with pens stuck in our hair, it’s because we’re on the brink of an organic meltdown. Many crunchy moms adhere to alternative diets—whether vegan, vegetarian, or GMO-free—and navigating commercial grocery stores can feel like a losing battle. It’s best to smile and keep walking because if you ask what’s wrong, you might find yourself stuck in a lengthy rant about the evils of Monsanto and our current grocery dilemmas. - We Produce More Waste Than We’d Like to Admit
We often chant “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” like a mantra, and while we strive to follow the last two steps, the reality is that kids are messy creatures. My eco-conscious child generates just as much waste as yours! We’re fully aware of this contradiction but prefer to keep that discussion under wraps. - We Lose Our Cool, Just Like Everyone Else
On a chaotic Sunday morning when chaos strikes before 10 a.m., not even a large cup of herbal tea, a bundle of sage, and a calming playlist can save us. On those days, we might even contemplate whether banging our heads against the wall would magically restore our zen state. - Our Children Are Not Always Calm
Despite our best efforts at meditation and holistic practices, toddlers can be unpredictable, and the smallest things can trigger meltdowns. While we may achieve some clarity through our practices, we often forget that a significant portion of emotional stability comes from typical child development. Honestly, I’m more focused on raising a well-mannered, potty-trained toddler than nurturing a young genius, and I suspect many crunchy moms feel the same. - Self-Care Often Takes a Backseat
We can recite the steps of an ideal self-care routine in our sleep, but actually implementing it? That’s a different story. After preparing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (with crusts cut off, of course), we frequently find ourselves too busy to prioritize our own needs. - We Sometimes Choose Sleep Over Yoga
When it comes down to choosing between sleeping in or doing yoga, sleep often wins out. Given how frequently we neglect our personal needs (see point five), we might fib about opting for yoga instead, hoping that if we act like we have it together, we might actually start to believe it. - We’re Just Like Every Other Mom
There’s no meditation technique in the world that can change the fact that motherhood is an incredibly challenging role, and we’re all aware of that. At the end of the day, we don’t care if you raise your kids as omnivores while ours are vegetarians. We’re all in this together, navigating the challenges of motherhood, and we should support one another rather than judging each other.
Whether you identify as a crunchy mom, a fitness-focused mom, a hard-working mom, or a combination of all three, the important takeaway is that you’re doing the toughest job in the world. So here’s a shout-out to you!
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In summary, being a crunchy mom comes with its unique set of challenges and contradictions. From grocery shopping struggles to the messy reality of parenting, we share common ground with all mothers. We may have our quirks, but at the heart of it, we’re navigating motherhood together.