A young mother has recently faced a mixed response from the internet for smoking weed every night before going to bed.
While some people are mad at her, others think it’s okay to smoke up to relax from all the burdens of parenting just like it’s okay to have a glass or two of wine.
Caitlin Fladager is from Vancouver, Canada, where weed has been legalized for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Caitlin recently posted on her Instagram: “It’s okay to smoke weed after your kids go to bed.” She has over 286,000 followers on Instagram which means the post went to a number of people.
The 23-year-old said she has quit taking her antidepressants, has maintained a healthy BMI (which was below the healthy limit previously), and has better sleep now.
No matter what others say, Caitlin believes that “you can still be a kick a** mom, and smoke weed.”
“Marijuana is my glass of wine,” she added. “It’s my can of beer. It’s my relaxation time.”
Caitlin finds it ‘funny’ when people are okay with parents drinking wine but get mad at the ones who smoke a joint or two to relax a bit and try being better parents.
The mom-of-two said she wanted to create ‘awareness’ about the bright sides of marijuana through her post.
Caitlin is with her high-school sweetheart, Noah, for 10 years now and is a happy mom of Adriana, six, and Jack, four. Adriana was born when Caitlin was just 19 years old.
“I have never been the most patient with my two kids,” Caitlin wrote in her post.
“Weed makes me a better mom, as I get a good night’s sleep after I smoke. I wake up well rested, and with a more clear mind. [My anxiety] has been so much better since I started smoking.”
However, she clarified in her post that she only smokes up when her children are sleeping.
Caitlin’s post quickly gained hundreds of comments from people who shared their experiences of smoking weed in their free time.
“This!!! Your posts help ease my momma guilt so much,” a woman appreciated Caitlin.
Another notable comment read: “I see no problem with smoking weed as a parent. As long as you aren’t doing it with the children around and it’s not putting them at risk then I see no problem.”
“Even though I’m not a mom yet, I’m 100 [per cent] behind this. I don’t drink anymore because it negatively affected my life and all I do is smoke now and my life has improved so much. I’m so grateful for powerful women like you advocating for marijuana! Thank you,” another commenter wrote.
One person said: “Just as acceptable if not more so. Alcohol has many more negative side affects than weed. Love this post.”
“Yes finally someone said it!!! It’s honestly way safer than getting drunk anyways. this momma of 3 loves her weed and snacks before I fall fast asleep,” a lady commented.
“I smoke weed to help with anxiety/depression plus I have problems trying eat a lot so it definitely helps with that,” a user said.
“I’ve gotten a lot of negative reactions for being a mom that smokes weed, even from people who either used to smoke before they had kids or they judge me when they are turning to far worse life ruining drugs.”
Some people ranted about the problems of smoking weed in parts of the world where it is an illegal substance.
There were also some negative comments on the post, with one of them saying: “If you smoke weed every day or you drink every day this is a problem!
“Regardless whether you have children or not but I guess if you’re responsible for another person you should not drink or smoke. Especially when you’re home alone with children.
“That’s my view on things. Obviously one glass of wine is fine, you can still drive and take kids to hospital in case they need to go.”
A few days before, Caitlin disclosed in a post on Insta that back in 2018, she attempted suicide by trying to swallow an overdose of prescription pills but her mom intervened.
She wrote a letter to herself, that read: “I’ve battled with depression and anxiety for most of my life, but last January is when the darkest corners of my mind, were starting to win.
“I was not the best mom because of this. I was sleeping all day, letting the TV babysit my children, and snapping at them way too easily. I wasn’t the mom they had once known. I was morphing into a person I didn’t even recognize.
“Then the ugly parts of my mind came into play. All I could hear in my head was a voice telling me I was a burden to my kids. I was a burden to everyone, and life would simply be easier for them without me in it.”
She finished the letter, saying: “You can see the demons I was fighting, in this picture. You can see it under the layers of makeup. You can see it in my hollow eyes.
“Almost one year later, I’m here. With my kids. Still fighting those voices in my head. Just not alone. I had to accept the help. It’s been a long, ugly journey. But I’m here. I’m fighting.”
Replaced!