Allison Dellion (dot) Net

The Mom Pledge

So recently my good friend over at Amber Page Writes tweeted about this thing called The Mom Pledge. My curiosity was peeked so I took a look at what it was all about. The Mom Pledge is about eradicating online bullying between mom and mom, but most importantly its about community and support. Its about placing your own personal judgments aside and also defending those who are being attacked for their beliefs and opinions.

I have a young and small blog and therefore have not been the victim of anyone's malicious intents, but I have seen time and time again people who think it is their place to write and post things that have no merit or benefit toward productive discourse of any “hot wired” topic. You have to ask yourself what is the point? Why say things just to be hateful and stir controversy? Many times I do not waste my efforts trying to make a rational argument against them, unless it's a topic I feel passionately about.

I have seen moms attacked on a question and answers forum for their choices to either breastfeed or bottle feed, to use formula, to feeding solids before four months or before six months, to use disposable diapers, to let their child “cry it out”, to letting them sleep in the family bed, or for using cribs, for being a stay at home mom or for working even if it was not a necessity to support their family. Simply, it does not matter what side you or on or what opinion you have over a topic, there will always be someone to disagree with your parenting methods. And that's OK! We need diversity, we need people trying the “old school” ways of parenting and people trying the “new school” ways. And surely enough, what your doctor tells you is right today will almost certainly change by the time your kids have kids. It happens with every generation. Our parents were told to let us sleep on our stomachs, now we are told to let them sleep on their backs.

The internet is a scary place. Every corner you turn has something new or something to be cautious of. Every click you make takes your further and further down what could turn out to be a very dark path. No one is there to steer you one way or another, except yourself and your ability to determine right from wrong. I urge everyone to use their common sense when it comes to what material you choose to put into your head, and that goes for every type of media available. I also urge you to think twice, make that thrice, before posting something that goes online, whether it's a picture, a comment on a friend's Facebook page, or a new blog post, because it will be there forever, and ever, and ever!

I do not advocate just ignoring problems you see online, but you have to use your intelligence and proper techniques when deciding what the best course of action is when dealing with an online bully. I've had people post very hurtful things about me online, and even though you try to ignore it, it still hurts, it's still painful, especially when what they say is untrue.

Put yourself in the other person's shoes. How would you want someone to respond to you?