My first and (based on reader response) my last attempted newsy bit on Nicole Polizzi, otherwise known as “Snooki.”
I couldn’t help but stare at her recent Twitpic of mother and baby. Sure, the Snook looks maternal, cradling her newborn while carefully planting a kiss on his delicate forehead. But there are so many distractions in the form of false eyelashes, multi-color nail polish (what mom has the time?!), over-sized sunglasses, and hoop earrings big enough to maim a small child, that I can’t even concentrate on the beautiful moment being captured. We certainly could have expected this kind of pic from an immature quasi-celebrity who’s terror-stricken at the thought of snapping a photo without full makeup–and we’ve undoubtedly seen versions of it live on the streets of Manhattan. Let’s just hope there isn’t more where it came from.
But, wait, who am I to judge? There appear to be not one but two over-sized teddy bears on hand for Baby Enzo. I’m sure he’s in good, frequently manicured hands. Besides, judging another parent–especially one with a newborn who’s figuring things out for herself and doing so in the spotlight, so to speak–is never a good move. Questioning a new mother’s way of raising her baby can be a knee-jerk reaction for many of us, especially after investing so much time and energy into our own parenting choices. But when it comes to motherhood, we should all be able to start with a clean slate. The Snooki of “Jersey Shore” fame should fade into the mist so that Mama Nicole can emerge. And we should welcome her into the parenting community, with fist pumps.
Whitney C. Harris is Deputy Editor of New York Family. She can be reached at wharris@manhattanmedia.com
