<p>I don&#39;t know if it&#39;s just me, but lately I feel picked on by the media.&#0160; Apparently, modern parents are <u>really</u> annoying to some writers - just look at what they&#39;re saying:</p>

<ul><li>Women who have children are <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/46805">trend-following airheads</a> who have children only so they can buy those trendy maternity outfits - just like Angelina and Gwen Stefani! - and are then shocked, SHOCKED, that raising children is, like, hard.&#0160; <em>(This was just plain dumb.&#0160; Think about it - people having babies to be cool?&#0160; Give me a break!)</em></li></ul>

<ul><li>Today Show segments that imply that moms who drink socially, especially with other moms, are <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16818362/">pathetic alcoholics</a> who turn to the bottle in a desperate attempt to break the monotony of their lives - and endanger children in the process.&#0160; <em>(Just like anybody else who has a drink at the end of a long work day.&#0160; Happy Hour anyone?)</em></li></ul>

<ul><li>Breastfeeding moms are perverted exhibitionists who must be <a href="http://izzymom.com/2007/02/22/myspace-says-baby-on-boob-must-go/#comments">banned from MySpace</a>.&#0160; <em>(MySpace!&#0160; The land of underage exhibitionism and lecherous old men is suddenly too prudish for babies eating?)</em></li></ul>

<ul><li><em>Et tu, </em><a href="http://select.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/opinion/25brooks.html?ex=1172552400&amp;en=4e8f1f17ec7b9ef2&amp;ei=5121&amp;emc=eta1">New York Times</a>?&#0160; <em>(I guess Mr. Brooks doesn&#39;t like chickpeas.)</em></li></ul>

<ul><li>And, most offensive of all, that <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587254,00.html">parents should be seen and not heard</a> because raising kids is about &quot;subordinating yourself.&quot;&#0160; <em>(Right.&#0160; I thought parents are in charge.&#0160; You try disciplining a two year-old by subordinating yourself.)</em></li></ul>

<p>Clearly, people that become parents, and especially women that become mothers, have lost their minds.&#0160; Our generation of parents are clueless hipsters that absolutely refuse to grow up.&#0160; We should get serious and do things their way.&#0160; </p>



<p>Excuse me if I don&#39;t buy this condescending crap.

</p>

<p>Of course, becoming a mother is one of the biggest changes a woman will go through in her life.&#0160; Of course, kids are hard work.&#0160; Of course, parenting requires sacrifices.</p>

<p>Of course.</p>

<p>But if having children was so terrible, then none of us would be here, would we?&#0160; </p>

<p>Yes, parenting requires a lot of tedious boring work.&#0160; So does most of life.&#0160; Sitting in an office working on budgets and powerpoint presentations is hardly inspirational or self-actualizing.&#0160; I would venture to say that it requires some level of sacrifice.&#0160; Doing your laundry is tedious, whether you have children or not.&#0160; </p>
<p>But motherhood also has many rewarding moments.&#0160; It doesn&#39;t have to be an isolating experience.&#0160; It doesn&#39;t mean that you have to lose yourself.&#0160; And you most certainly don&#39;t have to become a parody of a 50&#39;s sitcom parent.&#0160; You will change, sure.&#0160; But that&#39;s not necessarily a bad thing.</p>



<p>Don&#39;t listen to these people criticizing the style of your parenting.&#0160; What matters is the substance.&#0160; No one is looking over your shoulder, telling you what to do.&#0160; You&#39;re the boss.</p>

<p>That might be scary to some people.&#0160; I find it liberating. </p>

<p>This idea that there&#39;s a &quot;hipster parent&quot; movement is ridiculous, about
as ridiculous as the idea that once you&#39;re a parent you&#39;ve bought a
one-way ticket to squaresville. </p>
