Time Magazine Breastfeeding Cover Provokes Harsh Judgment…and Inspires My Own Magazine Covers

By now, you’ve surely seen the new Time magazine cover featuring a sensational picture of a woman nursing her nearly four-year-old son and the provocative question, “ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH?”  It’s meant to be shocking and it is — but more than anything, it encourages people to once again judge well-meaning moms.  From the way we dress our kids and ourselves to how we feed them, everything is scrutinized under the media’s microscope in hopes of sparking debate and driving readers to their sites, magazine stands, what-have-you; never mind that their shameless quest for attention leaves well-intentioned and loving moms feeling insulted, ashamed and inadequate — when all most any of us wants is to raise happy children the best way we know how, ideally without everyone telling us we’re doing it wrong (especially because we care so darn much, making us even more sensitive to criticism).  Meanwhile, if a dad is just willing to hang out with his kid, he’s hailed for being the best parent ever.

“Does your husband change diapers?” my hairstylist asked the other day.

“Um, yeah,” I responded with a look that said, “DUH.”

“What a wonderful dad!” she gushed, adding:  “My son changes his daughter’s diapers, too.  I’m so proud of him.”

Seriously?  I don’t know; perhaps I’m the weird one for expecting my husband to change his OWN KIDS’ DIAPERS.  Regardless, it’s that double standard that inspired me to create these Time covers imagining how the editors would tackle similar parenting issues when discussing moms versus dads.

A peek:

Not that I’m bitter or anything.  Hmpf.

Can’t we all just support each other and take pictures of our babies in ridiculous baby hats and share them on the Internet for each others’ amusement?  Is that too much to ask?