Commando Parenting

Parenting is an art form. It's something that is cultivated over time. Some people are naturals while some learn while doing. I've always thought that there are two types of parenting styles and this theory was put to the test Tuesday.

We ate at a burger restaurant in Pennsylvania on Monday. We had spent all day at Hershey Park and we were all exhausted and starving. As the three of us made our way to our booth, I noticed a family directly across from us. There was a mom and a dad and two little boys. Everyone was groomed perfectly and they looked like they came directly out of a modern day Norman Rockwell painting. Both children had their own little tote bag that was filled with stickers, crayons, and activity books. Sticking out of "Perfect" mom's purse was a travel sized container of wipes and throughout the meal, she wiped faces, cut meat, and lead songs. She was so June Cleaver.

I call this kind of mother the 4 Star General Mom because they always seem prepared and ready for battle. These are the moms who make organic baby food from scratch and bake whole wheat cupcakes sweetened with grape juice and they always travel with extra--extra snacks, extra shoes, socks and underwear. These are the moms that never allow their children to play with plastic toys or to allow television. The general moms have a plan and they don't deviate for any reason.

I can say that I am not a general mom. I have nothing against them and, in fact, I am a tad bit envous of them but that is not me. I am a commando mom. For me, half of the time there isn't a plan. If there is one, it's sketchy. I fly by the seat of my pants and make it work in whatever situation I'm in. There is no activity pack ready to go. Sometimes we play with what's in the restaurant. Sometimes we grab some cars or animals as we leave.

We went into that restaurant with nothing more than a Hershey Park Chocolate Worker hat and a stuffed animal and I searched for things to entertain all three of us. I had no wipes (that's what my glass of water and a napkin is for). I had no activity book (that's why servers hand out crayons). Sometimes my son eats processed foods but he also likes to eat peaches and broccoli. He likes to watch TV but he also plays with a lot of toys.

Unlike the general moms, I feel like I'm making the plane as it's flying. I don't have all the answers and I don't have a plan but we're going to get there. Sometimes this backfires on me miserably. But what I also find is that I'm developing MacGiver like skills where I can make something out of nothing.

So I salute you, General Moms, and I am jealous of your order. But I'm not the kind of mom to be running things from the sidelines. I'm in the trenches and I'm getting dirty. I'd have it no other way.