Apparently I'm an Earth-Mother!

[Posey]

Well according to my mum at the weekend!
I was amazed. I've been a mum almost 7 years, my sister just 1. While visiting my parents at the weekend we were discussing how easily or not we have adapted to having kids. My mum amazed me by calling me an earth mother. Not entirely sure what she meant as we were interrupted by the kids (don't all interesting conversations end like that?)
Anyway what does she mean? That I've taken to motherhood like a duck to water and take it all in my stride relishing each wonderful moment? Or does she mean I've let myself go in favour of my kids? My hair's a curly mop most of the time, I rarely bother with makeup and wear the same pair of snot-stained trousers for days on end?

What do you think? Are you an earth mother and what do you think it means?

It means both I think.
IMO it describes a natural, calm mother who probably doesn't shave her legs, or brush her hair on a daily basis.
But I don't shave my legs but I'm not an earth mother by any stretch of the imagination.

I dunnoreally posey, but I would take that as a huge compliment..imo an earth mother is someone who naturally is good with children, good at staying at home, doing cooking and stuff, just being very comfortable with being a mother and not feeling that she is missing out by giving up her career to do this...Yes, the hippy, long-haired woman does spring to mind...also think of earth mother as someone who doesn't get uptight if children make a mess/ fight/ pull each other's hair as she is calm and just knows instinctively how to deal with this (and come 7pm when they're in bed hits the wine because all that unreleased tension makes her want to scream a little...joking a little)..Earth mothers are what children want (are you quite long skirts, children painting beign creative and you are really chilled...long reply I know but you like a good mother

meant to say sound like a good mother

My main aim in life is for mum to say that to me. You must be doing something right. Tell me your secret.

I got called one for breastfeeding for over 15 mths both times, using cloth nappies and freezing babyfood that is homemade, I do however wax and shave and even use St Tropez tanner when called for. Also penchant for booze and Thai food
No mung beans and lentils here (the odd chickpea makes it through though)
I do knit, but only designer baby items, not my own sandals and bras!
LOL

message withdrawn

Bekki, to be a mother of any sort who loves and does all for her children is the best mother any child could want...has your mother not said she's proud of you...sure she is

Yet my grumpy old ma calls me a lazy bag of shite...
Hmmm

I get called and earth mother quite a lot. I don't wear skirts very often though (but yeah my legs are often unshaved in the winter- manage my armpits though and my hair is usually a mop). I always take it as a compliment, becuase I often don't feel very earth motherly. And I rarely make soup (I always think earth mother should make soup). Bake bread every other day but not through choice (boys are gluten free).

lol Kiwibird

That clinches it, I am told by a dsicernign 10 yr old that my soup reigns supreme!
My mother says it needs more salt
Not taking cooking tips from someone who has smoked 40 a day for 5o yrs!
Seriously a compliment that high from your mother is one to be worn proudly
Well done, you are oficially a goddess of motherhood!!!

discerning??

an earth mother to me is someone who is a 'naturally good mum'- calm,resourceful and great to hug!!! I never had one but was minded by one as a child and she baked bread and soup was made daily!!!! The biggest 'giveaway' though is the affection! Well done! (my mum just thinks i have no control in our house...because my boys don't 'notice ' her!!!)

Agree that it means someone who finds motherhood natural and not stressful (all the time anyway!), puts her kids first without neglecting herself and still has a good relationship with other people inc husband/partner.
In my mind it also could mean someone who breastfeeds at least up to age 2, lets children sleep in her bed whenever they want, may be a vegetarian, has total faith in complementary and alternative health care, probably had water births, you get the picture

Funny, don't think anybody has called me an Earth Mother.
Is it because I'm TOO SCAREY?

My neighbour at the back calls me an earth-mother. I was astonished.

My earth mother traits:

Look like a sack of shit tied up in the middle
Make homemade soup, bread, everything
like gardening
do lots of DIY
Piscatarian
write poetry
I sew, craft and make jam and homemade wine

(but what have any of these things to do with children???)

Points not in favour:

I shave legs and armpits
I farm ds out to childminder
I go out drinking in pubs
I make kids help with chores
I shout at them
My idea of bliss is a weekend without them

My neighbour thinks I am earth-mother because he came to a huge dinner party at my house where all the kids were running around like lunatics. he doesn't understand that's only because I can't control them. He also came to a barbecue when I was 7 months preg and still managed to keep his glass topped up.

He has no kids himself so easily fooled. Surprised he hasn't heard me shouting.

Posey, the salient thing here is that it was your mother who called you this. Now that I am impressed by.

Janstar! I'd feel very happy to have you as a neighbour! My inlaws measure my 'skill' as to whether my whites are white and that i do my ironing and keep the n....i do keep my whites white....but that is the limit to my sucess as a housewife....and the whites stay white because i like it- not because THEY desire it! I spend alot of time prising my boys off each other and playstations- so have NO time for ironing....and i've given up on general housework....people see me as a coping mum....i don't feel it either....but if your neighbour 'thinks' you are doing well- then like it or not you will be a 'role model' when he does have kids! My neighbour is a 'mrs Bouquet'...and has a beutiful home with all old solid pine furniture ...and she is a good mum too- she isn't just 'houseproud'- she takes the kids out alot and is a lovely person....she shouts too (the walls don't hide much!) and has become a role model for me- sometimes just seeing her cooking tea reminds me that i should come out the greenhouse and return to the kitchen sink!

Also noted Gordon Ramsey would hate me
I shall toddle off, unconcerned that I am no ones paragon of earthly virtue...
Calm is for those who grew up without the eye opener of hysterical, critical and post populist feminist for a mum!
It's in my genes to shriek like fishwife, make insane threats about drowning the Playstation and cancelling Xmas and Easter and fun altogether.
Wheres the wine, thats from grapes thats about as earthly as I shall get today!
Sorry for ongoing theme in many posts of my mother - she has just stayed for 3 weeks and driven us all bonkers) She hates people

Davros has decribed an earthmother exactly as I see one.

I have been called an earth mother just for the pure reason that I enjoy kids and at group gatherings they seem to all hang off my legs etc.

I've also been called one by family and friends becasue i don't get flustered by kids / Lottie, make home-cooked meals for her (although I don't do as much of that these days), give her cabbage water to drink etc.

I wouldn't consider myself an earthmother though, I'm just someone who enjoys being a mum and enjoys being thomcat.

Davros's description of an earthmother is spot on.

I was doing quite well in Davros's list until I got to the water births. (although only climb into bed with ds2 as I am too tired to sleep train him- does that count?). But water births? nah epidural please

I would describe my friend as an earth mother because she never ever seems to get stressed. She has 3 children, 5, 3 and 16 months and is now pregnant with her 4th and just seems to glide through.

I am sure she doesn't see herself this way though.

She never agonises over diets, sleeping patterns, strops, squabbling etc etc, just gets on with it.

I am to according to my sister, I think to her it means I breastfeed in her eyes 'beyond what other people think is normal' (ie about 6 weeks!), use cloth nappies, make organic food and am a SAHM. I do also
But I do shave my legs, drink lots of wine that I bought in a shop and didn't make myself and wear trousers.
I would like to be able to make my childrens clothes though so that probably counts as EM, doesn't it?

According to my cousin I am an earth mother for breastfeeding.

I did have a waterbirth. At home. But otherwise nooooooo.....

Americans use the term 'crunchy' to decribe earth mothers. Women who extend bf, use cloth nappies, sling their babies, make home made food etc describe themselves as 'lightly crunchy'. And of course full on earth mother is just 'crunchy'. I'm aiming for lightly crunchy myself its slightly more acheivable and I think it involves less Jam.

Am still chortling at the idea of knitting my own bras. And Bekki, I know what you meant by "sling their babies" but my head is filled with visions of earth-mumsnetters slinging their babies away across the garden, shouting "shut up! I need to make soup!". (sling means throw in UK English, just in case it doesn't in USA).

I'd love to get 'brownie points' from my mum for using cloth nappies and making my own baby food, but sadly she thinks that is normal, not having noticed that things have changed in the last 30 years. And I had a cs so clearly I'm not remotely crunchy. Next time I shall demand a cs under water in my back garden, and force the consultant to eat home-made jam afterwards.