Mother's Groups


Don't get me wrong. I'm all for mommy's groups, whether they be live or online. I just don't like the way they make me feel sometimes. I go to BabyCenter to chat online or visit the boards and most of the time, I get really helpful information, but some other times, I leave feeling like an inadequate mother, and I can't help but think that's exactly how some of these other mothers would like me to feel. I go on about how frustrated or concerned I am about a situation and solicit feedback from others in similar circumstances and I get responses like "well, I can't relate because my child is so perfect, blah, blah, blah" "how can you feed your child prepared food...they have their whole lives to eat junk" "you put your child down with a bottle...don't you follow the Weissbluth technique?" "You mean to tell me you didn't buy the Britax carseat?" "Well, Sally walked and talked at 9 months, is your kid a retard or something?" I'm exaggerating a little, but not a whole lot! Our children will have the rest of their lives to be exposed to competition among other children or between adults. How can we in good conscience begin subjecting them to it now in order to fulfill our own disgusting need to feel adequate? It's made me obssessed with trivial things like sippy cups, naptimes, shoes, diapers...I mean, are these really the important things about motherhood?

Well, enough ranting, I guess. I will just tune out the naysayers and focus on the support I do get from some of the really wonderful mothers I know. I get some really great advice, but I usually like it when I actually ASK for it.

Speaking of advice...It's been suggested that we purchase Court her very first POTTY! Lately, she's been telling us that she's peeing. My husband hasn't quite gotten that yet. The other night he was drawing her bath and she said "pee-pee" He then proceeded to take off her diaper and she peed all over the floor! She's also tugging at her diaper. I have no delusions that she will be potty-trained anytime soon. I just want her to get used to the idea that she has her own potty. Now the really important question....do I get the Dora the Explorer or Elmo potty chair? I'm sure there's a discussion board somewhere arguing about that very decision right now!