The author has combined an MA degree in education and child development with 25 years of professional experience in school system, hospital, and homeless shelter environments to create a common sense foundation to be a take charge parent.
What? A mean mom? Yes, a mean mom. But don’t you want to be the nicest mom, the bestest mom, the sweetest mom, the biggest pushover mom?
No, you don’t! Not if you want to be the mom who looks forward to a relationship some day with responsible, independent, caring young adults who can take care of themselves.
Now, it’s not easy to be a mean mom. I know because I am President of the Mean Mom’s Club and my sons will vouch for me. They happen to be two of the most responsible, compassionate, independent young men you will ever want to meet who are my pride and joy. But as one son says, “We didn’t always like each other.” And that’s ok.
In fact, that’s essential in raising independent, responsible kids. But it’s a tough thing to do for moms who believe that a good mom is the nice mom, the sweet mom, the pushover mom.
As moms we have a job to do and we have to always keep that job in mind, even when the going gets tough; even when the toddler is screaming in the store aisle for that candy & people are giving you the evil eye; even when your 10 year old tells you all the other moms are ok with that movie and you just live to make his life miserable; even when your teenager claims you can’t keep her from getting that belly button ring.
So, here are five tips on how to become the best mean mom.
1. You are not perfect and never will be; give it up. Get and use a support network when it gets tough.
2. Know what’s important for rules in your house and make sure they are teaching the values you want your kids to learn.
3. Enforce those rules in different ways at different ages.
4. ENFORCE those rules! Every time, no matter what. Learn to say NO & mean it.
5. Remember that your job is not to be their friend. They have friends. They need a person in charge who will give them security & safety in the form of consistent boundaries every single day. It’s a scary world out there. They’re counting on you to be mean enough to protect them from it and teach them to cope with it.
And when they ask why they have to follow those rules, tell them “Because it’s in the Mom’s Rule Book.”
The author, Maureen LoBue, M.Ed., has combined both personal and professional experience to create Mean Mom’s Club: The Mom’s Rule Book. The purpose is to provide a common sense foundation for parents to take charge of any given situation by using the rules to plan ahead. The 7 rules prepare parents to deal with situations at different ages for different children, using their own parenting style.
For more information, contact:
Maureen LoBue
President of the Mean Mom’s Club
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