There are some issues on which I absolutely will not compromise, that are so completely black and white, I will not bend for any reason. Hitting children (and yes, spanking is hitting), leaving children alone to cry it out (read: neglecting them), and routine infant circumcision (otherwise known as genital mutilation) are my non-negotiables. There are no circumstances under which any one of those things is acceptable. Anyone doing any research on me at all has run across my about section stating very clearly, "Certainly, we're not all going to agree on everything. That's what makes the world go round. However, there are a couple of things about which I am vehemently passionate: no CIO (cry it out), no RIC (routine infant circumcision), and no hitting, yelling, or otherwise abusing children in any way. In my opinion, there are no debates about these things as there is no other arguable position once all the research is done."
About a year ago, I started a small social media management company. I keep my client list small, so that I can easily put in the time necessary and not take too much away from my son. I do much of my work while he's breastfeeding and/or napping. Not all of my clients need believe as I believe. I have two real estate clients - never have I wondered how they feel about my aforementioned non-negotiables, because they simply do not apply to their business or our business together. If I found they were corrupt in their real estate dealings, I would drop them in a hot second. When I take on a client that touts themselves as a gentle parenting/child rights advocate, you bet I expect that they, too, share the same non-negotiables. Given everything stated, it should come as no surprise to anyone that if I am put in a position to take your money or stand by my convictions, I will choose convictions every time. If and when the time comes that I am told, "do not stand against the abuses that are your non-negotiables when representing our page that SAYS it's for the rights of children and pro-gentle parenting, do not stand against Facebook when they wrongly delete a mother's photo AGAIN, do not take a stand against the wrongs that are proliferated consistently against those who cannot stand up for themselves and have done nothing to deserve their fate," I will always say a very polite but firm, "take this job and shove it" stance. Make no mistake, I feel guilt about acing my family out of money. We will live, though. There will be other clients. If I, however, set aside my ethics for the sake of my wallet, I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror, would not be setting a good example for my son, would feel a much more crippling guilt that would last far longer than the guilt I feel for losing a couple bucks.
This is who I am. I will not apologize for it. I choose ethics over money.
