The Mommy Mafia: The Urban Dictionary of Mothers

OFFICE MOM

(Dead Give Away – DGA – she is not wearing sweat suit pants)

Office Mom is always dressed to the nines and in a mad hurry. She is highly organized; the only chit chat she’ll have with other moms is about how busy they are, or stressed about work, or running late for a meeting with the boss. Time for a quick kiss, a fleeting feeling of guilt as her child is left with carers for the day and off she goes. She likes to tell herself that she has more quality time with her kids than the women who are with their kids all day. Why? Because working moms get home at 6pm, they have a precious 1-2 hours with their little darlings. In that brief time, they give them their undivided attention, cooking together, eating together, reading, homework, cuddles on the couch. Yet, they reason, a stay at home mom who is with her kids all day, will have to juggle all of that with housework and activities ‚so her time with her kids isn’t as intense. Office Mom loves to justify day-care by saying, Oh, it’s good for them, they love it! Plus it helps them develop socializing skills.

On the rare occasion that Office Mom is in a playground, you can spot her because she will be the only woman not wearing sweats/shorts/t-shirt/husband’s baggy shirt to cover the mommy tummy – and she is pushing her kid on the swing with one hand, using the other hand to hold her smart phone. Office Mom tells Housewife Mom that they have it easy.

Being at work is much tougher than being with kids all day, said Office Mom. At home, you are the boss. At work, you have to put up with back-stabbing, politics, office affairs, fending off advances from amorous male workmates (if you’re half-attractive) or feeling rejected if trying to lure a male workmate who barely gives you a second glance. Office Mom likes to lecture Housewife Mom that women should be out there expressing themselves, using their talents and getting rewarded for their labors. Of course, Housewife Mom defends herself (if they can be bothered) by pointing out they have already had 20-plus years of using their talents and stimulating their brains before their kids arrived and what’s a few short years of enjoying kids while they are young (if you’re financially able to). The debate over who has it tougher will never end.

"I always get the best parking space. So what if I’m blocking in a few other cars?" says Drop Off Mom.

DROP OFF MOM

(DGA – her car keys are dangling around her neck for a quick getaway)

Drop Off Mom will park anywhere she likes; blocking in as many cars as possible, just to ensure her little darling is at ballet/school/daycare on time. She can be seen casually strolling back to her car, gossiping along the way without a care in the world, despite the strong crowd of parents waiting for her to move so they can claim their 45 minutes of child-free time. The most efficient Drop Off Mom will turn up to school half an hour before the kids are supposed to be there, just so she can grab the best car space. One Drop Off Mom admits to getting an adrenaline rush the moment she spots a prime position for her car. These women usually have very selective deafness. She is oblivious to the sound of other cars honking horns, or mothers yelling at her, in a fruitless bid for her to either push off or, at least, park legally. She loves to brag to other moms that the ‘parking fairies’ are her best