"Alpha mums are so determined to make a project out of everything, they are not considering or loving the child, who becomes an object of status or self-glorification for the mother," says Brenda Shoshanna, an author of books on family stress.
Ah yes, the child as a pride-inducing social accessory.
A kind of toddling Tamagotchi to be taken out every so often, tampered with and packed off somewhere else.
We've all heard these women boasting about their babies' achievements.
Whenever I meet a professional working mother who begins our chat with "Michael's speaking some Spanish, he's only 18 months", I want to scream 'So what!' quickly followed by 'The poor thing".
Down the years, I've worked as a pre- school assistant, clown and drama teacher, and I have yet to meet the child who, when asked what makes them happy, says: "Being busy all the time with a variety of learning experiences."
Alpha mothers put greater emphasis on a child's perceived success, while Beta mums value their child's happiness.
For Alpha parents, staying ahead of the pack educationally is an obsession - and one I believe is truly hateful because of the pressure it puts young children under. It's also likely to be counterproductive.