Mommy Wars: Crunchy vs. Chewy Moms

         This is something that as been on my mind for a while and I finally feel like discussing and giving my opinion on this never ending topic of Mommy Wars. As of late, we mothers are now given the labels of being either a Crunchy or a Chewy Mom. And those two labels define who we are as mothers and let others have the opinion on whether we are a good or bad mom to our children. It seems these two versions of mommies go head-to-head and toe-to-toe about all parenting topics. After spending excessive amounts of time on mommy boards and facebook group pages, I learned something, these two versions of mothers cannot get along nor can they accept the different paths all mothers take. And, trust me, there is a huge difference in the two types.
         Before we get real into this topic, I would first like to say, no matter which type of mommy you are, you are a mommy making the best decision for your child. I am not judging either side nor am I completely with either side. As a mother, I am tired of seeing other mothers bring each other down based on how they parent their children.  

What is a Crunchy Mom?

        This type of mom is often labeled as the mom to follow. These are moms who have chosen a more “natural” parenting route for their children. This means that they wanted a midwife at birth and probably did a water or at-home birth, though some had midwifes in the hospital. They are totally against circumcision. These moms are advocates for breastfeeding, and yes, they do it for a year and some go for more years. They are baby wears (and for more than just shopping trips), co-sleepers (been there), use cloth diapers, and usually have a vegan or gluten free diets. They are often against vaccinating their kids. A lot of them either grow their own veggies, and they make their own baby food instead of buying it.

What is a Chewy Mom?

        This mommy type gets the bad labels, like being a lazy mom; some are labeled as working moms. These moms usually have births in hospitals with doctors and get the epidural. They are fine with circumcisions. In every aspect they are different from the Crunchy Moms. These moms probably pack a lunchable for their kid’s lunch, use formula, and use the disposable form of diapering.

What type of Mommy are you?

        Well, for some this can be an easy question, for others, like me, you are a mixture of the two. What should we call our type, Mixture Mom? When it comes to parenting for me, I take a little from both sides, and they work well for me. I used a midwife at a hospital and had no epidural for both births (I believe this was a great accomplishment for me). I learned the hard way that co-sleeping is no fun at all; my oldest co-slept with us, it was horrible, and now we are trying to move him into his own space. I wanted to accomplish the breastfeeding for a year with both, but, that is easier said than done. I lasted two months with Little Man and three weeks with Little Guy. It was nice getting that bonding time with them, but, let’s be honest, that crap hurts and makes your nipples sore.

         Being either form of a mom doesn't give anyone the right to wage war on others. I have known Crunchy Moms to be the worst when it comes to judgment, especially over the circumcision issue. They really voice their opinion and accuse those who circumcised their sons to be “uneducated”.  Don’t get me wrong, Chewy Moms throw that crap right back too. 
        When will the Mommy Wars end? We are all mothers, we are all doing what we believe is best for our children. So, why must we always bring one another down? Support is what we need in this society, especially when it comes to parenting, because being a mother is not an easy task. Yes, we will always judge one another, but, we don't always need to voice our opinions.

So, what Mommy type are you?

-Kylie