When I became a mom, I had people telling me to do things differently. As in, do not vaccinate, do not spank your children, do not let them be attracted to the same sex, do not cosleep/bedshare, do not formula feed, do not do this and do not do that. Three top reasons why people may think I’m a horrible mom.

1. I do not formula feed.

They say “breast is best,” but to me, feed is best. I was able to breastfeed for the first two months of Nikaria’s life. It was so stressful. I felt like I wasn’t producing enough. I felt like it wasn’t good enough. It was more of a mental thing to me. At one of my appointments, my OB told me that she felt a lump in my breast and that I needed to stop breastfeeding until I got it seen about. After that appointment, I no longer breastfed. I was scared. I was wondering would happen to her being fed. I had no choice but to turn to formula. For that, I will never feel bad or think I am a bad parent.

2. I believe in bedshare/cosleep.

The best one yet. People think I am horrible because I believed in bedsharing/cosleeping. I mean, yes I understood the risks as in; SIDS. But I was also recovering from giving birth, and I wanted her near me. It was our bonding time. I loved the skin to skin that we had during that time. I never felt guilty, I never felt like a terrible mom. Although the risks were high, all I could think to myself, that babies die of any and everything. By all means, I didn’t want her to die, and thankfully she didn’t, but if God wanted to take her, then at least she would’ve taken her last breath laying beside her mommy and daddy.

3. I believe in vaccination.

I know that people will always have their beliefs about what vaccinations may cause. The truth is, no one knows. Not even you or me. I feel like since I was vaccinated when I was a little girl and never had any of those things that they’re for, then why would I start believing that they’re going to make my child sick? I believe that kids should be vaccinated even if you don’t want them to as a baby. My child has been vaccinated and will continue to until her dad & I feel otherwise. I think that us as moms should always support each other no matter what.