Oh, You Little Mama Bear

Today I was talking to a friend of mine and she said something that hit a real nerve with me.

It’s a logical shaming technique, but the thought had honestly not occurred to me at all, and I felt it was time to shed some light and wear this mantle proudly.

Regardless of who utters the phrase, be it an opposing lawyer, the mitigator, the district staff, insulting the parent for being protective of their child is dismissive of parenthood.

“Oh, you little Mama Bear.”

Don’t we all, as parents (the ones who actually love our kids at least), do whatever we can to protect our children?  Aren’t we all Mama Bears and Papa Bears?  Why then, if you disagree with someone who is protecting their child, do some think it’s ok to shame a parent for doing so?  Isn’t this our job?

“Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Lawyer / Mitigator / School Administrator / etc., I didn’t realize that by asking a question or expecting you to protect the life of my child was me overreaching my God given parental authority.  I didn’t realize that it wasn’t my job to actually parent my child.  What freedom to know I don’t actually have to protect the little creature that we call a child, our child for that matter.  How refreshing to know we can just throw it out the door, to the wolves and let natural selection take over.

Gosh, let me lay down my Mama Bear mantle and let the chips fall where they may.  What a relief!  No more worrying about grades, food, doctor visits, well being, sleep schedules, self esteem.

Shout it with me, lads, ‘FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!'”

Not me.

Not now.

Not ever.

You want to shame me for being a “Mama Bear?”

Well, I’ve got news for you.

Bring! It! On!

You’re going to watch this Mama Bear eat the wolves attacking her child with glee.  I’m going to lick my fingers when I’m done and ask if there are any other takers.

“Oh, you little Mama Bear.”

Damn skippy!  So proud to wear that mantle!

Raise your #MamaBear and #PapaBear flags high!  Shout it from the mountain tops!

We will NOT go gentle into that good night, but we will rage, RAGE against the dying of the night.

(The last line adapted from Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas.)

P.S.

I’m so making a #MamaBear shirt and wearing it to every school meeting from now on.