It's my kid & I'll brag if I want to.

There's a very interesting piece in today's Star Tribune (Variety Section), written by Bruce Feiler of the New York Times, titled "The Bragging Wars". It's all about parents (like me) who brag about their kid(s), and the people who hate "those" moms and dads. This piece was very well-written, kind of funny, but I totally disagree with many of Feiler's "guidelines for acceptable chest-thumping".

Here's the deal: I have a daughter. I'm very proud of her. I'm going to brag about her.

If you don't like it, that's o.k., and I'm not offended. Heck, I wouldn't even be offended if you ignore my bragging, or "unfriend" me on Facebook. That's your choice. Just like it's my choice to brag about my daughter. We have close friends who have actually admitted to us that they have "hidden my posts/feed" on Facebook, because I share photos of our daughter every day... multiple times a day. We also have friends and family members who say they can't get enough of those photos. Again, I'm not offended if you chose not to read my posts, look at my photos, and I admit that my posts can be excessive. I apologize if my actions have offended you (not really).

I'm a very proud Mama, but that doesn't mean I constantly talk about how "perfect" or "amazing" my kid is. Sure Linna poops in the bathtub like other kids, has temper-tantrums when I take her away from her toys, and yes, she has even sunk her little teeth into my mom's skin. She's no perfect angel, but I am so proud of her, and no matter how naughty or imperfect she can be at times, she's still "perfect" in my eyes. I make mistakes as a mom, but when I feel like I've done something "right", I'm going to tell you about it.

I love seeing all the photos that my friends, family, and other parents post of their children and grandchildren on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. I appreciate when a parent wants to "show off" their kid. You're proud, as you should be. Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs in the world, and when you're kid has one of those "good" moments, I like to hear about it. Yes, there's the flip-side to this, when all you hear is the "amazing", "advanced", "great" things a person's child does. That's a load of crap, because we ALL have moments where we want to lock ourselves in a room and scream after a bad day. If you can't be honest about the "real" stuff that comes along with parenting, then I don't want to be a part of your little fantasy.

I'm a real mom, with a real kid, and I REALLY like to brag about her. I'll tell you about the good, the bad, and of course the ugly. Let's make a deal... if you don't like it, DON'T READ IT OR LOOK AT IT! And please, keep posting those photos of your children on Facebook, and updating us all with their cuteness (or not-so-cute moments). We're parents. We work hard, sacrifice a lot, and if a somewhat normal human being is the product of all that, then by all means, brag.

Here's a picture of my kid from today. Isn't she cute?!