Girl, Stop Apologizing: Excuse 5 Part 2

A Chapter by Chapter Review of Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

The Ugly

“I got snarky notes from moms at school about missing field trips and bake sales, and I cried myself to sleep about them more nights than I can count. Nobody ever sent snarky notes to my husband for having to work during a field trip — but that’s a diatribe for another time.” (46–47)

The points I want to make:

1. I don’t think other moms left her snarky notes
2. I don’t think women believe you have to attend every field trip to be a good mom
3. Men get criticized too, but for different reasons
4. Snarky notes are not the point

I am skeptical that Hollis received nasty comments about not being involved in her children’s school (See Excuse 1). There is no way to prove the first sentence, and Hollis doesn’t provide any evidence or specific examples. Here is a bit of anecdotal evidence about moms and school activities from my own life.

My mom worked part-time when I attended elementary and middle school, which gave her enough time to go on field trips with my siblings or me, serve on school committees, and watch our sports games. It was all by design; she wanted to be involved, so she worked part-time.