Member Articles

How will you know if you are successful? Your children will let you know. When my son was 3 years old, a friend asked why he loves his mom. His answer was, “Because she feeds me good food.” When he was in junior high school, a friend asked him to do something against house rules. The friend’s mom overheard him reply, “No way, man. You can’t get away with anything with my mom.” When, as a teenager, he asked to go out with a new friend, I asked what the friend’s curfew was. His answer was that the friend didn’t have a curfew. What came out of his mouth next was my affirmation that I was a successful mean mom. He said, “I guess his mom doesn’t care about him.” As a mom, that was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. He got it!

So, yes, according to Maslow, a successful mom is a Mean Mom. But it’s not easy. Do you have what it takes?