The opposite of madness is not apathy, it's SANITY

Link: MSNBC - Mommy Madness.

This article is all the rage on the mommy blogs and message boards this week. While reading the article, which outlines how excruciatingly stressful some women find the job of motherhood, I started to wonder why I'm not having a breakdown. I mean, I work full-time, I have a child, I'm in my 30s, I was diagnosed with clinical depression years ago - I'm just ripe for a mental hospital!

The genius of this whole concept is that mothers who aren't having stress-induced meltdowns end up wondering what they are doing wrong. If I were truly a concerned mother, wouldn't I be just as overloaded as the women in this article? Is my lack of severe strain just a facade covering a deep wellspring of apathy?

Many of the message boards I've perused are just sickening in their self-righteous and congratulatory attitudes towards this topic. I see women actually competing over who is more exhausted, overtaxed, overburdened and overextended.

"After I finish working 14 hours, taking Junior to French class, Gymboree and the symphony, steaming his organic fruits and veggies, washing five loads of laundry by hand and cooking a perfect vegetarian, low-fat, low-carb meal, I'm really just kind of tired. I'm such a bad mother!"

Why are we fighting each other to prove that we are more mentally ill than anyone else?

So, here's my list of reasons why I'll never be Mad Mommy of the Year in the mental institution:

1. I work a normal eight-hour day.
2. My husband works a normal eight-hour day.
3. I buy food from the grocery store. I see no need to grow my own, when Publix grows it so well.
4. I make Hamburger Helper on a regular basis. It's fast and easy.
5. Occasionally, I let my son watch "Seinfeld" reruns on TV. He thinks Kramer is amusing.
6. Often, there are piles of laundry in my closet waiting to be washed. They will be there until I find time to wash them and THEY WILL LIKE IT.
7. I have not started a college fund for my child. I hope he's smart and/or plays really good football so he can get lots of scholarships.

Comments

[1gloriousconundrum]

Way to go! I imagine sense of humor goes a long way in maintaining mommy sanity.

[Sam]

Are you living in my head or am I living in yours? Hee.
We can be equally mentally ill, ok? The voices in my head aren't enough company anymore :)
My mom thinks I'm damned since I let my son watch Simpson's...of course, I'm watching it with him...Homer cracks me up.
YOU ROCK!

[Charles]

Speaking from the experience of being your husband of five years, you need to be committed. I love you anyway, I'm not so sure about Drew though...he is new here and his constant spitting up may be his call for help "Crazy woman trying to poison me, call 911".