Note to TIME: Motherhood is a hard enough job

The June 2012 cover of TIME Magazine has accomplished its goal. It has elicited intense reactions and spawned editorials, Facebook and Twitter postings, and at least one parody on The Daily Show. The model has been roundly criticized for posing for the photo, especially since it includes her fully recognizable 3-yr old son. The hostile, challenging, headline,  “Are You Mom Enough?” is like an arrow to the heart of contemporary mothers.

I hate the fact that I am commenting on this cover, giving it even more exposure. But what I hate even more is the way this image disrespects all mothers, no matter what their parenting style. Yes, this mother is an advocate of prolonged nursing. Does this photo accurately portray how she regularly nurses her 3-year old?  I hope not. It appears to be nothing but a staged image, arranged to make both the mother and son look bizarre — and controversial. It reminds me of the videos of (you know who it was) allowing her son to eat directly out of her mouth. Both are disturbing and both are being used to sensationalize parenting trends that at worst, have yet to be proven effective (and might might actually be harmful), and at best, are not for everyone.

I hate that, whatever the article says about attachment parenting, this image will forever be associated with it. I hate that it will polarize mothers rather than bring them together for healthy discussion. And I hate, most of all, that more pressing issues, such as prenatal care for mothers without health insurance, child care for the working poor and the availability of jobs at salaries that can actually support families, are being overshadowed.

Motherhood is a hard enough job without this.