Skip to content

Top Navigation

Parents Parents
  • GETTING PREGNANT
  • PREGNANCY
  • BABY NAMES
  • BABY
  • TODDLER
  • BIG KID
  • FUN
  • HEALTH
  • PARENTING
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAY
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES
  • MORE

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Parents

Parents Parents
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. Read More Next
    • Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Learn to overcome friendship hurdles and bond with women who get you. Read More Next
    • How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      I’m a pediatric sleep specialist who has seen it all, and I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to get your child to (happily) stay in his own bed all night long. Read More Next
  • GETTING PREGNANT

    GETTING PREGNANT

    See All GETTING PREGNANT

    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month

    When sex coincides withĀ your most fertile ovulation days, you'llĀ increase the chances of conceiving.Ā Get to know each phase of your cycle to get pregnant faster.
    • Ovulation
    • Reproductive Age
    • Maximizing Your Fertility
    • Pre-Pregnancy Health
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Dealing With Infertility
    • Genetics
  • PREGNANCY

    PREGNANCY

    See All PREGNANCY

    Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon

    Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Learn to recognize the first signs of labor approaching, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.
    • Signs of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Week-by-Week
    • Giving Birth
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Due Date Calculator
    • Pregnancy Complications
    • Fetal Development
    • Gender Prediction
    • Baby Showers
  • BABY NAMES

    BABY NAMES

    See All BABY NAMES

    These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020

    Curious which baby names stole the show this year? From new classics like Noah to tried-and-true faves like Ava, here are the top boy and girl names of the year so far, plus more naming trends to consider.
    • Baby Girl Names
    • Most Popular Names
    • Names by Origin
    • Twin Names
    • Baby Boy Names
    • Names by Religion
    • Celebrity Baby Names
    • Baby Name Quizzes
  • BABY

    BABY

    See All BABY

    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? Listen for wheezing, hacking, or barking first, then read on to find out what's normal and when it's time to worry.
    • Newborn Care
    • Crying Baby
    • Health
    • Baby Development
    • Safety
    • Gear
    • Breastfeeding
    • Diapers
    • Sleep Issues
    • Feeding
    • Nursery
  • TODDLER

    TODDLER

    See All TODDLER
    • Preschool Activities
    • Behavior & Discipline
    • Toddler Development
    • Milestones
    • Potty Training
    • Starting School
    • Health
    • Safety
    • Childcare
  • BIG KID

    BIG KID

    See All BIG KID

    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    Mean kids aren't just a middle-school problem. The trouble has trickled to the youngest grades. Learn how to spot it—and how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school.
    • Education
    • Health
    • Food & Nutrition
    • Bullying & School Problems
    • Child Development
    • Safety
    • Manners & Responsibility
  • FUN

    FUN

    See All FUN

    17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

    A fun celebration doesn’t need to cost a pretty penny. Throw a memorable bash with these clever cost-cutting kids’ birthday party ideas.
    • Birthdays
    • Indoor Activities
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Printable Coloring Pages
    • Kids' Entertainment
    • Best Toys
    • Holidays
    • Family Vacation Ideas
  • HEALTH

    HEALTH

    See All HEALTH

    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    Here’s everything you need to know about the disease that originated in Wuhan, China.
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Autism
    • Cold & Flu
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19
    • Cough
    • Down Syndrome
    • Emergency Aid
    • Fever
    • Medication & Vitamins
    • Obesity
    • Rashes
    • Stomach Aches
    • Vaccines
  • PARENTING

    PARENTING

    See All PARENTING

    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    Everything you need to thrive at home as a family.
    • Positive Parenting
    • Parenting Style
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Family Dynamics
    • Divorce
    • Home
    • Adoption
    • Just for Mom
    • Money
    • Toy Recalls
    • Stroller Recalls
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Family Recipes
    • Baby Food
    • Toddler Finger Food Recipes
    • Hints & Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • Birthdays
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Meals
    • Food For Pregnant Women
  • HOLIDAY

    HOLIDAY

    See All HOLIDAY

    6 Easter Egg Science Experiments for Kids

    Smarten up your annual Easter tradition with these easy, educational egg dyeing ideas.
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
  • News
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES

    OUR MAGAZINES

    See All OUR MAGAZINES
    • Parents
    • Parents Latina
    • Ser Padres
  • MORE

    MORE

    • Newsletters
    • Contests
    • ParentsIRL
    • Adulting
    • First Year Playbook
    • Celebrate Your Way

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Your Profile
  • Your Profile
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Parenting
  3. Better Parenting
  4. Parenting Style
  5. Mommy Merit Badges

Mommy Merit Badges

By Sprinkle Pool Ice Cream
April 14, 2009
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Stephen Campbell
Do you remember your Girl Scout days? Going on campouts, roasting s'mores, and selling cookies. For me, the best part was the merit badges. They were such a source of pride and accomplishment. But what about now? Where are our badges for being moms?
Start Slideshow

1 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Credit: Stephen Campbell

Sure, we get the pride of presenting the world with a model citizen (knock on wood), yet we have to put up with a lot along the way: arguments about the value of underwear, tantrums in the frozen-food aisle, and vomit that always misses the toilet. Nobody hands out awards for this. So Parents created some. Don't worry. You don't have to be a supermom. These are awards any mom can earn -- we bet you've scored a few of them already.

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Faker Baker

Credit: Stephen Campbell

Who doesn't want to hear her child bragging that his mom rocked the bake sale? On the other hand, the darn thing is tomorrow and no one told you. Besides making a nutritious dinner, you have to help with homework and watch Mad Men. As if you have time to come up with some homemade cupcakes.

You've earned it if:

You ever bought a box of cupcakes at the store, individually repackaged each treat in colored plastic wrap, then put them all in a nice basket.

Voila -- just like homemade! Chances are your cupcakes were the first thing to be gobbled up -- after all, kids love things that look like special little presents. The real point is you let go of the guilt -- and you still had some energy left over to have a conversation with your husband. Plus, that experience gave you the courage to suggest a "no bake" bake sale for the next time to that intimidating group of do-it-all moms. And they ate it up.

2 of 9

3 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Memory Maker

Credit: Stephen Campbell

You know those seashells that your kid brought back from the beach? The ones that he forgot about until his room smelled like a wharf? And how about the piles of art projects with metallic paint and glitter glue? Let's not even discuss the thousands of baby pictures still stored on your computer's desktop. Someone has to organize your children's memories and mementos before you forget what belongs to whom.

You've earned it if:

You kept it simple but got it done.

Say, each year (even if you skipped a few and just started today) you took an acid-free photo box and in it put vacation pix, postcards, small souvenirs, and e-mails you sent your husband about something cute your kid had just said. Did you put together an online album? Or maybe you spent an hour one Saturday afternoon sorting through the preschool art projects worth saving (baby steps, baby steps).

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Off the Hook

Credit: Stephen Campbell

Do you consider The Wiggles family? Do you refer to yourself as Mommy when talking to other adults? Then it's time for a night out. But it's not so easy to lose yourself in the movie when the image of your child's tear-stained face smooshed against the living-room window is seared into your soul.

You've earned it if:

You've realized that an evening out -- with your husband, your girlfriends, or heck, just yourself -- can be a special treat not only for you but also for your kids.

Maybe you've taken them to the store and let them pick out cool swag -- sparkly nail polish or plastic dinosaurs to be opened only by the sitter. Or you've gone the extra distance and found someone who knows how to french-braid or do kung fu moves -- in other words, someone more fun than you. Smart. You may have scored yourself not just one but two nights out.

4 of 9

5 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Fit In Fitness

Credit: Stephen Campbell

We all know that we should exercise. Not only that, but our kids need us to be good role models. On the other hand, your workout shorts are in the washing machine, they never play your favorite TV channel at the gym, and it's hot outside (or cold, or foggy, or looking like rain). All good excuses, of course, but somehow the bathroom scale doesn't care one bit.

You've earned it if:

You've recently played "monster chase" with your 4-year-old, given aerobic piggyback rides, or joined in a high-stakes game of tag.

Exercise comes naturally to a kid, so you've smartly resolved that for 30 minutes a day, on most days, you'll act like one. Yes, you've gotten your butt kicked, but what a workout! It's true, you could've just mowed the lawn or vacuumed to burn off last night's bloomin' onion and "tastes" of ice cream, but as your child might say, "That's kind of lame, Mommy."

5 of 9

6 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Penny Pincher

Credit: Stephen Campbell

With money tight and the economy bleak, scoring a great deal on something you really need gives you more money to spend on -- well, other stuff you really need. When you find a bargain so good that you play the "guess how much I paid for this" game with your husband ("Go lower! No, even lower!"), then you may be eligible.

You've earned it if:

You tap into your inner bargain hunter on a regular basis.

For example, you've planned your visits to the Goodwill store based on the days it gets new arrivals. You skipped the Eggstractor and a compilation of The Brady Bunch episodes (must stay focused!), but you snared an awesome, shiny Huffy 3-speed for only $5. Your kids always have tons of fun because you let them try on funny hats and boas, which you secretly buy and then save for Halloween 2010. Most of all, you don't forget where you stashed all of those great finds.

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Couch Potato

Credit: Stephen Campbell

If you have small children, a break can be as elusive as a calorie-free chocolate bar. But just like a nice hot shower, a few minutes of downtime will leave you refreshed and ready to face whatever wackiness is coming at you next.

You've earned it if:

You completed the Fit in Fitness badge and afterward your bum made contact with the sofa for 15 full minutes.

(Sorry, it doesn't count if while on the couch you were refereeing a heated game of Candy Land.) If you're the mom of an infant, you've earned it if you've embraced the "sleeping while they sleep" rule. Have a toddler? Your efforts have to be more creative, like checking a few great story CDs out of the library and then making sure he listens to them -- in the other room.

7 of 9

8 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Grain of Salt

Credit: Stephen Campbell

Oh, unsolicited advice. The endless, free-flowing commentary that starts as soon as you show and ends, as far as we know, um...never? "Your baby's too hot/cold." "Stop nursing." "Keep nursing!" "You're too soft (or too tough) when it comes to discipline." "Your kid stays up too late!" You need to take this with a grain of salt.

You've earned it if:

You've stopped caring what other people think (unless you've actually asked).

You got this skill by saying to yourself, "I am the expert on my child" over and over until you believed it. The backseat child raiser is probably trying to help and may be right (even a stopped clock is correct twice a day). So you've got some polite stock phrase at the ready. For example: "Interesting idea!" or "I'll have to think about that." Then, you've learned to divert the conversation by saying something like, "Where did you buy those shoes? I love them!" while resisting the urge to tell her that she probably paid too much.

8 of 9

9 of 9

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Just Say No

Credit: Stephen Campbell

Do you want to organize the End-of-the-Year party? Can you watch your neighbor's kids -- all day? As important as it is to chip in and contribute, you need to know your limits. This is for the wise mom who knows that saying "no" is just as important as saying, "Of course I'll be the class parent again."

You've earned it if:

You've said the magic word without sounding or feeling guilty.

You've gained the hard-won knowledge that you're pulling your weight without signing up for every committee. You've realized that you're not doing anyone any favors if you overextend yourself and then totally burn out. And you don't have to come up with excuses or stammer "I'll think about it" (though that's better than a regret-stained "yes"). You understand that if you can manage to say "no" with a clear conscience, then when you say "I'd love to," it'll be because you mean it.

Originally published in the May 2009 issue of Parents magazine.

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 9
2 of 9 Faker Baker
3 of 9 Memory Maker
4 of 9 Off the Hook
5 of 9 Fit In Fitness
6 of 9 Penny Pincher
7 of 9 Couch Potato
8 of 9 Grain of Salt
9 of 9 Just Say No

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Parents

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • From Our Sponsors this link opens in a new tab
  • Affiliate Program this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Parents.com is part of the Parents Network. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com

View image

Mommy Merit Badges
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.