Good Mommy, Bad Mommy  

Here I will let you in on a closely guarded state secret, if you promise not to tell: My kids are not perfect. This is a head-scratcher, because I believe in Doing Things Right, and I work hard at this parenting thing. And though I’m not sure where I’ve gone wrong, I’ll share with you some of the wisdom I’ve gleaned over the years, and perhaps together we can sort it out.

To wit:

Good Mommy supervises her children closely when they are outside. Bad Mommy hovers and doesn’t let children exercise their own choices, depriving them of important experiential learning like Bad Stuff That Happens When You Eat Dirt.

Good Mommy makes sure everyone is eating wholesome meals, and junk only in moderation. Bad Mommy dictates food choices, thereby sapping her children’s freedom of choice, and silencing their natural hunger cues.