Okay, I found the article. Are you more of an Alpha Mom or a Beta/Slacker Mom?

[SomedayMommy]

Here is the article, then judge for yourself (anonymously and truthfully) whether you are an alpha mom or a beta/slacker mom. And there is no "other" or "in-between" in this poll

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...s_N.htm?csp=34

[solo]

i'm laid back. not everything has to be perfect.

[BethB]

I know you said no in between but I really can't say one or the other. I think I am an alpha mom and a beta woman if that makes any sense. I am alpha in my children's clothes, hair, behavior, respect, etc. I am a lousy housekeeper and in general a slob so my expectations for my yard, house, car etc. are much lower than those for my parenting. Does that make any sense? LOL I would like to be more alpha in those other things, but it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Having three kids has definitely led me to be less alpha though, out of necessity. lol

[MamaBear]

I'm more of a "beta" mom......the slacker term makes me cringe. I'm laid back, but definitely not a slacker. I do wish that they would have used better terms because there is a definite difference between not being uptight/laid back and being a "slacker." Kwim? I'm not a type A personality who has to "control" every aspect of my life and realize that sometimes chaos can happen and that is okay. My house is clean, but never "perfect." My kids are kids and will sometimes do things that make me cringe and those are learning opportunities for them. They actually did a segment a week or two ago on the Today show on what I would consider "Alpha" parenting but they called them "Helicopter" parents who hover over their children and want to have control over their children even through college and into the workforce and what companies are actually doing about it. Apparently, there is such a large group of such parents that they've coined a name for them and have to make a game plan on how to deal with such parents. I realize that parents want what's best for their children, want them to be successful, etc. We ALL want that. But, there's a time when the parents really have got to step back and let their children be their own people and let go and not try to live their lives for them.

[MarinaTwinMom]

I'm in between.

I'm not an overscheduling mom who volunteers for every committee and always has the kids dressed perfectly and behaving perfectly. I don't pack five-course meals for lunches. My house isn't spotless.

I'm overprotective, though, which I suppose makes me lean toward the alpha part of the scale. I don't just let my kids hop on their bicycles and go anywhere they want for five hours at a stretch (like another mom in the neighborhood does). I carry hand gel wherever we go, and use it on the kids before they eat (in contrast to another mom I know who hands her kids apple slices after they have been playing in the dirt -- I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but it makes me cringe).

[BC-NanceLee]

I am SO slacker. I am so slacker that I truly don't understand the question half the time. I have never felt the need for "feedback" on my parenting - for better or worse - really, never. I don't feel the need for feedback on anything I do, I just do what feels right to me.

Psychologists say mothering styles are a product of social pressures interacting with a woman's own personality, so that some can resist these cultural prescriptions while others accede to them.

Guess my personality is pressure-resistant! I don't even feel the need to try to "resist these cultural prescriptions" - hell, most of the time I don't even know what they are!!

[Sarah]

I'm in between.

I'm not an overscheduling mom who volunteers for every committee and always has the kids dressed perfectly and behaving perfectly. I don't pack five-course meals for lunches. My house isn't spotless.

I'm overprotective, though, which I suppose makes me lean toward the alpha part of the scale. I don't just let my kids hop on their bicycles and go anywhere they want for five hours at a stretch (like another mom in the neighborhood does). I carry hand gel wherever we go, and use it on the kids before they eat (in contrast to another mom I know who hands her kids apple slices after they have been playing in the dirt -- I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but it makes me cringe).

Me too!

[GirlMom]

Laid Back/SLacker Mom here and darn proud of it!

Karen

[Sarah66]

I am really somewhere in between. I get all excited about (gradually) helping my ds make a suit of armor out of duct tape and cardboard--because it is getting him excited about reading books on medieval history (for grade-schoolers) But out activities allow lots of free play time. I help out at school when I can and probably go overboard on Halloween costumes (because it is fun for me) but I am not on the site council for school and am not organizing the latest fundraiser. I am into appreciating my kids day by day and helping them gain skills that matter, not be the best soccer/baseball/gymnastics athlete in their classes.

[marg]

Well on paper I should be an Alpha mom as they described it - well educated, management experience, very good organizer, etc. But in reality I'm a Beta. But I'm surrounded by Alpha moms and they drive me crazy.

We have a lot of highly educated and successful women around here who have decided to stay home with their kids. They put all their energy into organizing and micromanagaing every aspect of their kid's lives. Plenty of competitive parenting around here! It's very hard not to get caught up in it, I have to talk myself down all the time, lol! The competition to get your kids in the best school, starting with preschool, can be intense, not to mention how guilty you feel if your kids aren't doing all sorts of activities like their friends.