Mama Merit Badges
Have you seen the Mama Merit Badges? These 1.5-inch iron-on embroidered badges are adorable, and they offer a fetching form of kudos for the various facets of childrearing.
I was never a very good Brownie, which is what preceded Girl Guides in my native South Africa. I was a useless Brownie and I never even made it to the Girl Guides. In an entire year of Brownie-ing, during which my fellow do-gooders all seemed to get, like, twenty badges up and down each arm, I received exactly one badge: the "First Year Star." Which means you have been a Brownie for one year. Well done, Crabmommy!
Now the Mama Merit Badges, this is a different story. I've been having so much fun checking out the little pictures and their accompanying text. And no matter what Brown Owl once said about me, I've discovered I am badge-worthy after all. That cute little boob patch you get for breastfeeding? Did that. Check! (I must say, though, can't there be a bottle patch too for all those moms who have warmed up countless bottles? I mean, that's no picnic either. A trifle judgmental these Mama Merit badges, eh?).
There is the shopping with baby badge, the diaper badge, the potty-training badge. Check! Check! I feel excited, vindicated, all those years after feeling inept at earning badges here I am scoring patches left and right! The travel with baby badge—I should get at least 3 of those. I've taken Tot to South Africa fergodssake, singlehandedly, and am about to do so again. Give me a set of platinum baby travel wings!! I've earned it!
But, wait. The Tantrum badge. Hang on. It's for "keeping your cool when your 3 year sobs inconsolably for a half an hour." Not sure about that "keeping your cool" part. Half an hour? I can barely keep my cool for five minutes. And then there's this line: "We all need this badge of honor for not shaking, striking or screaming at our children."
Hm. Spankmommy that I was, and temper-losing Mommy that I am, I guess I'm one badge short of a full set.
Finally, another 'rotten' Brownie, I quit after the one and only decent field trip.
Going to see if I've earned any badges.
MK
Now you have a chance to redeem yourself with a mommy merit badge!
Are these badges for real? As in, people (moms anyway) actually WEAR these things out in public? It seems bad enough that someone would collect little pats-on-their-own-back for doing the same thing every mom out there does but then to slap on your own scarlet letter, oops, I meant merit badge, and subsequently parade about so others can know about your skillful breastfeeding seems creepy and sad.
Please tell me you're joking. Please?
When my husband comes home and the house looks about as messy (or worse) as it did when he left for work, he likes to ask me what I did today.
I tell him the children are still alive. Now, where's my badge for that???
Come on Ladies! Where's your sense of humor??? This is supposed to make you feel better, not make you feel critical and bitter... These badges are great! I have two kids, have breasfed both, changed 1000 diapers and would proudly display these badges on my diaper bag. They are funny, lighthearted and shouldn't offend anyone. Especially another MOM!