9 Reasons A Type A Mom Is The Best Friend Everyone Needs

With our first baby, we childproofed everything: cabinets, toilet seats, edges of tables, corners of coffee tables. We even had a fridge lock. So whenever we hosted a play date, parents were totally comfortable having their little ones toddle around our home. Admittedly, we slacked off when our second child was born, and after realizing that the drawer catches caused more frustration than they prevented accidents.

I have tissues in every pocket and crevice. True, some of them may be used, but in an emergency they can be used to wipe off the most egregious puddle of spit-up. I don’t think I’m that unique among my mom friends in this way. But what ups the Type A factor is that I keep the tissues in ziplock bags to avoid them coming into contact from germs before use.

It's worth the shoulder pain to lug around a pound of wipes in my diaper bag because they come in handy in situations that don’t necessarily involve my child’s butt. Their use has been expanded, but not limited, to: dirty restaurant tables, lipstick marks (stop kissing the baby’s head, Grandma), and unidentifiable green stuff… everywhere. You can count on us in sticky situations.

This may be more because and less about me being Type A, but I extend to other parents the same courtesy I would like when it comes to serving food to children. I always ask if the child has any food issues, and am upfront about keeping a nut-free home. You can eat off my floors, not because they’re clean, but because they are free and clear of allergens.

Whether it’s about sleep schedules, weaning, screen time, or the safest laundry detergent, we know our sh*t. Knowledge is power and my theory is, if the knowledge is out there, we would just be lazy not to seek it out and arm ourselves with information. This can backfire, though. I have suffered from information overload, where I just spiral down rabbit holes on the internet while researching the best sensory balls for older babies. That was a huge time suck. I blame it on being a first-time parent, though. I was much more efficient with my time when my second kid was born, mainly because I had that much less of it.

I don’t dry clean my kids’ clothes, but I do make a point of stockpiling the ones in good condition they’ve outgrown to pass along to friends with younger kids. Without meaning to, I guess my children have amassed a good amount of clothing, since I tend to buy things when they're on sale, even if they’re in a too-big size. Eventually, my kid will grow into those pants, and they can then be passed along to neighborhood friends or donated for clothing drives at school and work.

I pride myself on being on time, especially when it comes to events that involve children. I am not exaggerating when I say I get outraged when people cancel or significantly alter plans on me and my family late in the game. One time my kids and I were supposed to have a movie play date with another mom and her kids, but a minute before we left the house she texted me that she’d have to cancel. My children were so bummed, and while I don’t think I should protect my kids from disappointment (clearly it’s a life skill they need to have), I do get angry at adults who don’t consider children’s tender hearts when turning their world upside down. I get that stuff happens and plans change, but I get pretty ticked off if that is for a preventable reason.

Having kids has taught me that I have to build in extra time if we are going anywhere. I wish other parents were more Type A in this way.

When my son was 1-year-old, I got promoted into a new position that involved some new skills, including some heavy budgeting. I had never done this before, but my boss shrugged it off. “I know you can learn it,” he told me, ushering in a confidence with numbers I had never had before. Turns out, I am a math person. I just needed someone to tell me to believe that about myself.

Ever since that job, I’ve embraced spreadsheets. And do you know how much of parenting can be managed through the magic of Excel? Contact lists, household expenditures, our kids’ schedules and chore charts are tools that have helped me to feel somewhat organized through the chaos of raising two children. Type A moms know how to format cells, and it would be our absolute pleasure to teach you (especially if it means we can finally be off the hook for re-running for Treasurer of the PTA.)

OK, I don’t do this, but I know some moms who do and I should really take a lesson from them. I do make sure to locate all bathrooms wherever we go with kids, though. That has to count for something.