I'll be the first to admit, I have somewhat of a Type-A personality. OK, to be completely honest, I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder a few years back so those tendencies spill into my parenting. I feel guilty about a lot of it, mostly because I struggle to control the way I deal with typical mom stuff. However, I've recently learned that there are some things Type-A parents don't have to apologize for (or feel guilty about).
If you aren't aware, OCD is described by the Mayo Clinic as, "a pattern of unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress." Couple that behavior with needing things to be done in a certain order or timeframe, and it's somewhat impossible to know just how Type-A I'm going to be on any given day. With my children (whom I love dearly), I often set a schedule and expect things like chores and homework to be done in a reasonable amount of time. This sometimes confuses others into thinking I'm nothing more than a "drill sergeant," running a stringent household that everyone hates. In really, I have a vision and want it executed properly (which is only kinda like a drill sergeant, right?).
In learning how to manage my anxiety and OCD, I've also had to face the way my diagnoses interferes with my parenting style. I'll look at my super laid-back, Type-B partner and ask myself, "How is he so calm about everything all the time? Seriously?" Then again, that's probably why my partner and I make a pretty great parenting team. We balance one another out. Which is why, in the end, there are things I don't really need to feel sorry about when it comes to being a Type-A mom, up to and including the following: