Pics Of Lawmaker Mom Taking Kid To Work Brings All The Sanctimommies To The Yard

Occasionally, a story breaks that really brings the sanctimommies to the yard. This photo series of a a member of the Italian Parliament whose been taking her daughter to work with her occasionally since infancy is one of those stories.

Are you familiar with the term “sanctimommy?” It simply refers to someone who thinks their parenting style is superior, and has zero humility or reservations about expressing that. The sanctimony spewing forth from a sanctimommy (or sanctidaddy – they totally exist, too) is usually shrouded in a thick cloud of passive-aggression, so sometimes it’s hard to spot.

The Architecture and Design Facebook page posted a series of photos of Licia Ronzulli and her child, along with this statement:

“Licia Ronzulli, member of the European Parliament, has been taking her daughter Vittoria to the Parliament sessions for two years now.

Life. There’s always a way to make it work. This woman runs PARLIAMENT with a baby in her lap and she’s CLEARLY doing an outstanding job because she’s still there being a total boss two years later, baby still in her lap.”

Here are the images:

Ronzulli explained that her decision to bring her baby into work started as a maternal one: she was still breastfeeding. She quickly realized that the images of her breastfeeding in Parliament were bringing more attention then any of the important policies they were covering in sessions. She said, “We’ve been doing a lot, a lot of work in the European parliament and there was no interest in the press. Then I come with my baby and everybody wants to interview me.” In one interview she said she wanted to “remind people that there are women who do not have this opportunity [to bring their children to work], that we should do something to talk about this.”

Some of the reactions to the images are totally over the top:

I am sure that Child would rather be outside playing . You only get one childhood this women is just a selfish career driven person. She should of took Two years out to devote 100% of her time to her daughter

I’m not sure how many hours this young child sits on her mothers lap? I worked in day care with lots of baby’s and toddlers. A child should have a lot of time to play and explore in order to develop properly. I guess this child is used to it and it is great she can spend time with her mom. But unfortunately this is no quality time at all. Her mother is focussing on her job and not on her child. On the other hand, day care is not the greatest place to raise your child either. Too many children put together with too little individual attention for them all.

Would that little girl not be better with a nanny or in daycare instead of having to sit bored at mums work where sometimes the job would HAVE to come before the child? I think she’s a little selfish! Going back to work or not is a decision we make as mothers not a choice the child makes. Let her grow up in an environment more fit for a child or if you can’t bear to be without her all day give up work and make sacrifices financially if needs be!

Her baby on her lap and a mobile phone in her hand.

This is stupid. Clearly the woman got her priorities mixed up. Her child is as important as her constituents. Enough said.

Separating your mom-life from you work-life is increasingly difficult for working moms. Good for Ronzulli for recognizing she was in a position to make a statement about that and doing so — even though she faced the backlash that always follows moms around. A male lawmaker in this country brought his infant to work last year when he couldn’t find a sitter — can you guess what the overwhelming response was? “Good for him! Dedicated worker and father – good to see!”

Moms – you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. That’s why I’ve adopted this very Zen mantra when it comes to dealing with those who would judge my parenting decisions…

mind ya business.