Thanks to the New York Times, Now I Need a Drink!!!!!
Yesterday was a big day for the media looking at the state of modern motherhood. In addition to the WSJ running two pieces (Jeff Zaslow’s and a second on automotive manufacturers targeting kids and their parents); the NYT also took a look at the evolving state of mothers.
Thursday Styles featured Cosmopolitan Moms, Stacy Liu’s take on the happy hour playdate. I find this piece fascinating on many levels. Mainly, interesting that the Times continues to find a story in the fact the mothers are women. And I could and likely will go back to the fact that last week’s mothers who travel + this week’s mothers who playdate have one common denominator which = mothers who drink….I need to sit (marinate???) on that one.
First I must credit my ever-brilliant friend Lisa Spiegel co-founder of Soho Parenting Center who has been speaking of the emergence of the mid -(last)century mother for sometime. She feels the 1950’s have never left us – that we have made no progress. To her point, the article in which Liu’s analysis of this “phenomenon” includes a great deal of anecdotal evidence regarding women’s need to be seen and heard as women and not just mothers. There are many life balance questions to be answered here as well. And also the notion of continued pressure and the push for perfection which feels to be at the root of much of this confusion. I especially adored Christie Mellor’s (author of The Three-Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to Happy Parenting) quote:
“It’s not just about drinking and cutting loose, it’s about giving your children the tools to be self-sufficient,” she said. “Because if you haven’t changed your general attitude, then you just end up being a really busy drunk.”
I remain shaken not stirred…