Duchess Meghan Markle flew halfway around the world to support her friend, Serena Williams, at the U.S. Open. Many journalists and fans took the opportunity to excitedly follow Markle’s movements on U.S. soil— she celebrated a friend’s birthday, she went to yoga, and she rocked a J. Crew dress at the U.S. Open (already sold out in stores, of course). But, naturally, Meghan Markle can’t step out without being mom-shamed, and this time it’s a doozy.
In this case, the fact that the new mom left her four-month-old son, Archie, at home, really ruffled some feathers. Because, moms cannot possibly have a life after having a baby, right?!
The Daily Mail, the British tabloid, couldn’t resist the opportunity to mom-shame Meghan. The writer Sarah Vine, a mom herself, wrote a column that did little to hide her true feelings about the new royal, calling Meghan’s trip a “stunt” and an opportunity for her to “flaunt” her famous friendships.
Vine noted that she could never have left her child at such a young age because she “was still breastfeeding” and that she was “completely obsessed with my baby.” The implication here is that Meghan is somehow the opposite, all because she took a trip without her baby.
Thankfully, the Internet was quick to come to Meghan’s (and, frankly, any new mom’s) defense, noting that Vine was in no position to throw stones. In fact, in 2016, she reportedly left her 11-year-old son alone in a hotel for six hours while she and her husband hit the town.
Still, The Daily Mail refuses to leave Meghan alone. They later published an article calling Meghan a “jinx,” blaming her for Williams’ loss at the U.S. Open. For reals: Can a mama catch a break?!
But on the topic of moms spending time without their kids, can we just say: Stop this nonsense! As commenter CK said on Yahoo!, “I guess the father, the nanny and all the other family members can’t babysit, eh?” And Stef helpfully pointed out, “Here’s the deal – mothers work, mothers travel and mothers have lives beyond their infant children.”
Despite William’s loss at the Open, we’re sure Meghan had a great time during her short trip abroad and happily went home to her family on Sunday.
Now, can we let this new mama live? She has enough on her plate without being shamed every time she steps out of the house or being called a “jinx” for showing up at her best friend’s sporting event. And that is that on that.
When I’m not hanging out with my three-year-old and husband in Brooklyn, I’m busy writing stories for Mamas Uncut and managing PR + Marketing for Magnolia Bakery, based in New York City. On weekends, you can usually find me at a local park or playground pushing my daughter on the swings, “researching” the best almond croissants in Park Slope or launching into impromptu family dance parties at home, the sidewalk or, every once in awhile, a restaurant bathroom. I’m still trying to master the whole parenting thing, but I have learned that copious amounts of coffee, humor and humility are involved on a daily basis.
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