Mompetition Pros and Cons

If you have read my previous post you'd already know what mompetition is. As for those who haven't already, mompetition is a competition between moms (particularly new or first-time moms) about how they raise they child/parenting style.

Now, enough of mompetition definition. In this post, I will list some pros and cons of mompetition that I know or notice. Yeah, mompetition can be annoying but it isn't always about just competition. In my own opinion, there are also good things caused by mompetition.

Pros:

*Makes Women a Better Parent
Because of mompetition, women always thrive to be better. They do what they think is best for their children to be able to be on 'top'. Moms always look for ways on how to improve their cooking skills, baby bathing and soothing techniques and a lot more. This is good because moms never stop on taking good (read very good...err..perfect) care of their children.

*Makes Moms Fit
Moms take care of themselves more because they don't want not to be able to take care of their family. They do exercises and have healthy diet so they will be fit enough to take care of their kids. Moms want to be at their best so they can give their best to their family.


Cons:

*Makes Moms More Stressed
Always thinking/trying to be on top makes it hard for moms to enjoy what they are doing. Because mothers competing with one another (openly/consciously or not) are often thinking about their parenting style than needed so instead of feeling contented about a job well done, they feel compelled on making things 'better'.

*Ends/Worsens Once Good Friendships
Mom friends who contend with one another (consciously or not) might end their friendship because of difference in their beliefs regarding childcare. Aside from that, sometimes mommy friends come to hate one another when they get insecure. If one is better at something than the other, the inferior one often gets insecure or becomes envious which might result in hatred.

*Makes Mom Spend Money More Than Needed
If one mom spends a thousand bucks on a can of milk alone, her peer might feel compelled to buy the same milk brand. Or if a neighbor mom has an expensive collection of baby bottles, the mom next door might buy some expensive bottles too, which in most cases isn't really needed.

Mompetition sometimes forces mothers to buy more expensive stuff for their children even if those weren't really a necessity just to be able to keep up. So often, more important things are being sacrificed like mortgage, car loans, educational plans, savings or thrust funds.

*Makes Moms Enjoy Less
Because mothers try to better themselves, they think 24/7 about taking better care of their family. They often forget themselves particularly their former selves. Pre-baby, women took care of themselves...post-baby, they don't even take a shower. Moms forget about recreational activities, relaxation or even rest.

*Makes Moms Often Tired and Frustrated
As what I have mention earlier, mothers often forget about themselves, thus, forgetting about rest. They try to do everything at once all the time and don't leave anything for themselves. Lack of rest results to over-fatigue and women involuntarily makes mistakes which results to frustration.

It is great if moms think about her family always but rest is a must.



*photo credit:examinerdotcom