We’re breaking down each mom-type here: Are you the overprepared one, the type F mom who stands in the background, the sentimental mom, or the “it takes a village” mom? Watch the video to see what the moms decide, and then take the quiz below to see what mom you are! Time for you to take the Parade.com quiz and find out what mom you are! Question #1: It’s the first day of school! You’re: A. Making the perfect lunches for an IG reel! B. Wiping away the tears. C. Waving goodbye—finally! D. Meeting your mom group for coffee post-dropoff Question #2: Your iPhone dings again! If you had to guess, what is it? A. Pinterest alert B. A TimeHop or photo memory—aww! C. An alarm I missed—oops! D. Your BFF, of course Question #3: What’s your favorite Parenting account to follow on Instagram? A. @ParadeMedia for all the craft ideas B. My favorite blogger or mom influencer who I’ve followed forever! C. @Scarymommy D. @Biglittlefeelings Question #4: What does your kid’s first-day lunch look like? A. It’s Pinterest-Perfect. Bento Boxes for the win! B. Lunchables—easy, breezy and my kid loves it! C. Heart-shaped sandwich with a note, like usual! D. My partner made it last night while I did bedtime—#teamwork! Question #5: What song brings all the first day feels? A. “Story of My Life” by One Direction B. “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson C. “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins D. “Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C Question #6: Movie night with the kids! What movie do you stream? A. “Luca” B. “Moana” C. “The Lion King” D. “Frozen” Question #7: What is your most-used emoji? A. Thumbs up B. Star C. Heart D. Laughing face RESULTS To get your results, add up the letter you got the most of. If there’s a tie, you’re a little bit of both mom types! Mostly As: The Overprepared Mom You have the lunches packed, have made cookie-cutter cucumber sandwiches, and pencils are sharpened. Yes, you’re one overprepared mom! We bet you’re up until late hours of the night, making sure everything is planned, packed and ready for the first day. It’s great that you’re so detail-oriented and organized, but don’t despair if something goes wrong. Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a Philadelphia-area clinical psychologist and co-host of the Mind in View podcast recommends keeping this in mind: “Most people don’t have it together in a picture-perfect way all the time! Just do your best.” Mostly Bs: The Type F Mom You stay out of your kid’s back-to-school business. You let them do their own thing for back to school and, if they don’t have the notebooks, then that’s on them. By standing in the background, you let your kids shine—and rise to the occasion. It’s important to teach your kids independence and let them spread their wings. And don’t sweat it if you don’t have those Pinterest-perfect lunches. “I see many parents who get upset about food and lunches but, when it comes down to being perfect, what are your kids going to remember? Do you remember the perfect lunches your mom put together or the fun times you had at certain events? You don’t care about those little things at all” explains Thea Gallagher, PsyD, a Philadelphia-area clinical psychologist and co-host of the Mind in View podcast. Mostly Cs: The Sentimental Mom Aww—weren’t you just rocking these babies and now they’re headed on the bus?! How did this happen, you ask yourself constantly. As a sentimental mom, you live for old photos, savoring every moment and making every day as special as you can. Kudos to you! Back to school gives you all the feels, but there’s a high chance your kid is not nearly as emotional as you are. So put your bravest face on and remember: You got this! Mostly Ds: The “It Takes a Village” Mom You’re part of a team when it comes to raising your kids. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins—they all chip in to help you raise your little one. And let’s not forget your mom group, who can always make you laugh and bail you out of anything. With all the support around you, it’s no wonder the first day will go smoothly—for you, and for your kiddos! Up next, 17 make-ahead mason jar lunches kids will definitely appreciate.
