Earth Mother: A definition.

[spidermama]

I've been Mumsnetting for 2/3 weeks but so far I've only seen 'Earth Mother' being used as a derogatory term.

It's used to imply a smug, self-satisfied woman who judges others.

However, according to Collins English Dictionary an earth mother is ....

1. a female Goddess considered as the source of fertility and life.
   
2. the Earth, personified .... or ....
   
3. a fecund or sensual woman.
   
   Mmm Hmmmm!
   I can understand it's not everyone's cup of tea but I, for one, unashamedly aspire to be an earth mother.

[SenoraPostrophe]

oops - "guardian reader".

[fqueenzebra]

There was a thread a while back "Why I am not an earth mother", which was supposed to be funny... but I didn't get it. Because I don't understand what the definition is, either!

Does it mean rich & all into home-baking? That seems to be what people are saying here...

wanders off to scratch her head....
(or maybe it's lice.) Do lice make you an earth mother?

[spidermama]

Mooncups are fantastic! I would NEVER use anything other now.

I do wear comfortable German sandals, bake bread, cook with quinoa, grow veg, bury palcentas, ohm with the best of them.

But I try to avoid the uglier trappings (afore-mentioned batik trousers, huge rings, cheesecloth tops and centre partings NOT designed to emmulate the 'boho' look.)

[spidermama]

I don't see the connection between earth mothers and being rich. The latter is most certainly absent in my personal assessment.

[snafu]

I would've thought being rich was pretty much the antithesis of earth-motherhood.

I'm afraid it does conjure up tie-dye and lentils to me somewhat. But also 'earthy' is good in the sense of being down-to-earth, unfussy, unpretentious, connected (man) and so on. That's rather nice.

[oops]

Message withdrawn

[Blu]

BK I'm so sorry!

And DS's shirt that he brought back was so fab...

Spidermama, teetering indeed! Tie-dye trousers are hardcore EM!

I think I would be an earth mother if I didn't work outside the home full time.

[expatkat]

When I hearor usethe phrase "earth mother" I (maybe incorrectly) think of born-to-be-mums who get absolutely everything right. As opposed to bungling non maternal types like me.

So when I started the (apparently not funny) earth mother thread a year or so back, I was being self-deprecating because I'm all too aware of how imperfectsometimes ludicrously imperfecta mother I am.

Only much later did it occur to me that "earth mother" might have a green connotation I didn't know about: cloth nappy using, organic-cooking mums, for example. But that shade of meaning wasn't intended when I started the thread.

I've never heard "earth mother" used as an insult, only as a alternate way of saying "natural mother"--which is, to my ears, is the highest compliment.

[fqueenzebra]

Wasn't picking on you expat, obviously everyone else on mn knew what you were on about with that thread, just not me!

What I don't understand is... why do people care? Surely we are all being the best mums we can be...

[bossykate]

yes, blu, the shirt! ok, that's actually fine, but you didn't see the home dyed pink elephant dungarees for dd that have leaked dye into everything they've touched - and while i get to choose dd's clothes you never will!

but they are out of the tie dye clothing stable, as indeed as the shirt dh bought himself - ahem.

now, why is it he didn't buy anything for me?

[chipmonkey]

I think "earth mother" is the greatest compliment you can give to a mum. I think of breastfeeding, cloth nappies, locally produced organic food and recycling. On my good days I do these things. On my bad days ds3 wears a too-small disposable because I wasn't organised enough to do the nappy wash and ds1 and ds2 eat waffles and beans after achieving 7 levels on the Playstation.

[bossykate]

as to the subject of this thread...

agree with expatkat and blu...

my chances of being one would be much higher if i didn't have to work more or less f/t outside the home.

[Blu]

BK - well I hear Spidermama may be selling a pair of tie-dye trousers on e bay - you could treat yourself!
Are you up? can i call you?

[spidermama]

They are a particularly unflattering shape too. Baggy at the top, tapering to a snug, sandal hugging bottom seam.

[bossykate]

yes and yes!

[MrsATeam]

Hi spidermama my sister has come up to visit and funny that you have this thread as this is what she called me from having four!!! I did not know whether to feel complimented or insulted!!???

[spidermama]

Feel complimented Mrs.ATeam.

I have four too.

I know my sandals are designed for comfort, not fashion. Yes my legs could be waxed more often. Perhaps some would call my healthy cooking 'homely' or 'flavour free' but dammit all! I home birthed my four with no drugs, I make a fine loaf of bread, I breastfed until they didn't want it any more, eat organic, go camping (ideally at festivals) and wear German sandals. So shoot me.

That's it.

[MrsATeam]

spidermama..you earth mother you...!!!!...Jokey....NO SERIOUSLY....IT is a fine line between compliment and insult and it is hard to take which way people are going with this commment....my sister kept saying it and I became rather annoyed about it in the end.

[handlemecarefully]

Okay so that's an earth mother - what's a yummy mummy then? Is is someone who remains glamourous and stylish despite having ankle biters? It's one of those cultural references that everyone is supposed to understand but I've never felt brave enough to ask; "what's a yummy mummy"

Apols spidermummy for going off on a wee tangent

[Heathcliffscathy]

i understand a yummymummy to be a v well groomed mother that has lots of help in terms of nannies/au pairs etc and can do lunches and doesn't look like she has been dragged through a hedge backwards. it is derogatory. i don't like it (if they can look great and be mums good luck to them, they are better women than i)

[SenoraPostrophe]

a yummy mummy is one who, like me, is covered in chocolate.

oh no, I'm an earth mother.

[handlemecarefully]

I'm just a 'also ran' mother (don't meet either category)

[handlemecarefully]

that should be 'an'.

Thanks for the clarification Sophable

[handlemecarefully]

and very witty Senora! - wry smile of recognition at that description...

[misdee]

i am an semi attached parent (sometimes i need my bed to myself ok!!), wear birkenstocks, like organic cotton clothing (its helps my kids eczema), liek the idea of home cooking, and do cook 75% opf the time. i use slings.

dont think i'm a yummy mummy or an earth mother tho lol.