Originally posted October 2, 2012...
The "Mom Gene". I saw this story on Good Morning America online after my parents told me about it. They said the story made them think of me and that I should check it out. Did any of you see this? I wasn't sure what to make of it so I had to watch it a couple times. Apparently researchers at Rockefeller University believe that some women are born with a "Mom Gene" that gives them the instincts they need to be good mothers.
I'm not sure if I totally believe that some women are born with a "Mom Gene". I do however, believe that some women are just more maternal than others. Some women are just better with kids than others. I think the way this issue was covered made it seem like women without this gene are bad Moms, or maybe not as good as their Mommy peers. There is a wide range of Moms out there. I talked about that a little in my post about the Smother Mother.
When I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a Mom, but it certainly wasn't my life goal. I think that I am pretty good and patient with Savannah. I naturally transitioned from a working woman to a stay at home Mom without any problem. Does that mean I have the "Mom Gene"? If a woman chooses not to stay at home, loses patience easily or sends their kid to Grandma's every weekend (cause y'all know that those Moms exist) does that mean that she doesn't have the gene? I always thought that once you became a Mother that instinct to nurture just took over. Even if it's just to do the basics and nothing else.
I'm still trying to form an opinion about the "Mom Gene". I don't quite know what to think of it. I'd like to think that I have it, but I honestly wasn't mommy focused until I got pregnant. I baby sat my younger brothers as a teenager and no one died so I guess I was pretty nurturing then too, right? Does that mean this ability was always in me? What do you think about the "Mom Gene"? Do you think you have it? Do you know anyone who clearly does not?
