What Is a Gummy Bear Mother?—You Might Be One and Not Know It

On any given grocery retailer run with a few of my 5 youngsters, they’ll inevitably toss some objects I don’t have on the record into the cart: Goldfish, Bitter Patch Children, Little Bites, Pringles, cookies, and donuts.

Generally I’ll inform them to place a snack, the sweet, or a baked good again, however quite a lot of instances I don’t. I determine that so long as my youngsters eat well-balanced meals together with fruits and veggies, it’s OK for them to additionally take pleasure in treats at house.

It turns on the market’s a reputation for a mum or dad like me: I’m a gummy bear mother. Why? As a result of apparently in the event you permit your youngsters to eat junk meals greater than yearly on their birthdays, and depend on Costco runs to inventory the pantry to your perpetually-famished brood, you’re not only a regular mother, however a gummy bear mother.

Gummy Bear Mother vs. Almond Mother?

In response to a TikTok creator who shares content material utilizing the deal with @drjustyna, a method to consider a gummy bear mother is that she’s the other of an almond mother. In her video explaining the label, the self-admitted gummy bear mother explains that once you don’t micromanage what your baby eats, or you might be open to attempting a brand new trending snack, then you definitely match the invoice. 

Apparently, within the feedback part, many gummy bear mothers mentioned they have been raised by almond mothers and selected to maintain treats and snacks available in response to their overly-policed upbringing.

Regardless of the psychology behind it, from the place I sit, having a freezer full of frozen breakfast choices and hen nuggets, a fridge that provides quick-grab choices for my busy kiddos like cheese sticks, and yogurt tubes, and a pantry bulging with quite a lot of chips, granola bars, and cereals, is solely survival. As a result of my kids aren’t going to be happy by a celery stick and a handful of raisins between a protracted faculty day and an evening of swimming, tennis, or dance class.

In the meantime, one other TikToker and proud gummy bear mother, @authenticallyamanda12, shared a sneak peek into her well-stocked kitchen in a brief video, and guaranteed customers, “Don’t fear. There are many accessible fruits and veggies, too.”

This is a crucial level about these of us who permit some processed meals into our properties. Simply because Cheez-Its aren’t banned in my kitchen doesn’t imply I’m not additionally shopping for natural choices and recent produce for the household. 

Our Household Does What Works For Us

In our case, we hardly ever eat out, so my youngsters are getting a home-cooked meal in all probability seven days per week. In the event that they take pleasure in a bowl of ice cream after a dinner of lasagna, broccoli, and garlic bread, I’m not going to really feel responsible about it—even with the TikTok mothers who admitted to being gummy bear mothers receiving their fair proportion of judgment within the feedback of their posts for daring to let a dye go their baby’s lips.

Pay attention, studying meals labels is essential, and I do. However equally essential is having fun with life with my household, and never making my youngsters overly paranoid about what they eat. Relaxation assured, nonetheless, we discuss stability and moderation, in addition to making good selections. 

A alternative I’m making? To determine what works greatest in our home with out consulting TikTok, and laughing off this label in the long run.

I’m positive I’m not alone in being sick of labels like almond and gummy bear mother, beige mother, white or black SUV mother, and extra. In addition to, why don’t dads ever get labeled? That’s an entire different matter!

For now, I’m off to Walmart and Costco, that are my saving graces as I attempt to maintain meals on this home quicker than my energetic, wholesome, and comfortable youngsters can eat it.