Understanding and responding to mom-shaming

Plus, a ton of easy and effective comebacks

A dear friend once watched in horror as a man she didn’t know snatched her child’s pacifier from his mouth, then lectured her about “babying” her baby. What this absolute troll of a human didn’t know is that her son’s occupational therapist had specifically recommended a pacifier.

Sooner or later, mom shaming happens to us all. And even when it’s not so direct, it’s the water we swim in and the air we breathe. No wonder mothers feel so paralyzed, so chronically afraid of doing the wrong thing.

We know that shame doesn’t work as a tool for behavior change, and that it tends to make harmful behaviors worse. We also know that eroding women’s mental health is a great way to damage their children, too.

Mom-shaming has never been about helping kids or teaching mothers, as evidenced by the fact that no matter what you do as a mother, it’s wrong.