I Fed My Kid Canned Pasta and I'm Not Ashamed

There.  I said it. 

It all started with a can of pasta.

A can of pasta that Lily occasionally requests.  A can of pasta that I'm not afraid to give her because my quirky kid usually requests broccoli or bananas or apples. A can of pasta that she shared with her little brother.

Liam tackled that dreadful canned pasta, which he was eating for only the second time ever, with so much enthusiasm.  I snapped away in an effort to capture a moment I didn't want to forget and to fulfill my goal of capturing life's little moments.

Shortly after posting the finished product on Facebook, a friend messaged me and warned me to get ready for the mom shaming. She recently fell victim of it after she posted a picture of her child eating an unhealthy food.

At first it made me laugh, but then it made me think. How often do we see a picture and think "I would never..." and instantly judge?

But here's the thing: a picture only tells so much! 

What these pictures DON'T show is the mother who had to fight against several medical professionals who automatically said her son would never be able to breastfeed simply because he had Down syndrome.

What these pictures DON'T show is the child who was breastfed until age 2.

What these pictures DON'T show is countless hours of making homemade baby food.

What these pictures DON'T show is the homemade meal that is placed on the dinner table 5 nights a week or the busy family that always gathers so they can eat together. 

What these pictures DON'T show is EVERY SINGLE healthy item that is consumed on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, many people would leave it at "I would never..." and automatically assume they are a better person because of their choices. They don't see the big picture.

A picture only tells the story of what's in it.

I'm a busy mom to four kids who rock my world. I love showing all the perfect moments, but I'm not afraid to keep it real. In the endless stream of social media promotion, I refuse to lose my authenticity.

I eat healthy, I purchase healthy food for my family, and I prepare healthy meals. We have a healthy lifestyle. But I have a sweet tooth and there are going to be some "unhealthy" options in my cart and in my pantry. I do believe in moderation when it comes to myself and my kids.

I'm not afraid to shove a lollipop in their mouths if they need a distraction.

I'm not afraid to treat them to ice cream or a small bag of candy.

I'm not afraid to feed them fast food every so often.

And I'm not afraid to buy my 4 year old a can of pasta on occasion when she requests it OR feed it to my toddler.

I'm CERTAINLY not afraid to share the enthusiasm Liam displayed while gobbling up a treat he has only had twice in his life!

I'm not ashamed of the choices I make as a parent. My kids are healthy, happy, safe, and well cared for. I KNOW I'm doing a good job.  The smiles on their faces and the way in which they treat others make that evident.

Life is so much more than a series of perfect squares on a social media platform! I REFUSE to censor my life in fear of someone judging me.

It happens all the time, and out of fear, we tend to censor what we share with the world. 

Speck of dust on the floor?  Can't share that picture!  Kid not strapped in properly because you are in a parking lot and didn't adjust the straps BEFORE snapping a quick picture of your cutie eating some ice cream?  You most certainly don't want to share that one! Unhealthy item in a lunch box?  Take it out and retake the picture.  It's truly getting ridiculous!

Some parents make some very poor choices for their children that are evident.  But the nitpicking at mundane issues, such as feeding your child an "unhealthy" food or, GASP, a bottle, is getting out of control!

I shared this on Instagram last night, and the feedback was so positive!  I think everyone is fed up with the mom shaming.  I've witnessed it on several occasions recently, and I stepped in to defend. ENOUGH ALREADY.

As for myself, I have no problem keeping it real. And I won't apologize for the choices that I make.

I fed my kid canned pasta and he survived.  The Earth kept spinning. Life went on. He followed it up with a snack of grapes and hummus.  I'll most likely feed it to him again one day. And if I'm going to be judged for that? Well...people really need to get their priorities in order.  Or find a hobby.

Life is messy and REAL and perfectly imperfect, and I'm going to live it proudly! Will you join me?

What is one not so popular choice that you made that you aren't ashamed of?

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