GainesvilleMoms.com

Check this out...I feel much better now!

Sorry about the brain freeze moment there...it's only Wednesday...here's the URL.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23907716/from/ET/

No apologies for brain freeze! LOL. I'd be apologizing all the time Okay, so I read this and the part where it says that moms are afraid to be judged. I totally agree with this. Although, I think that we need to put our children's safety first. Bribing kids with candy is one thing; leaving two napping toddlers napping in a car while you eat at a restaurant is another...My rule is safety first and honestly, I don't care if other moms judge me if my kids are safe and happy.

Amen...it's so hard, sometimes, isn't it? I am, though, by nature, a people-pleaser, the "yes" man, and a neurotic, over-anxious, ridiculously guilt-ridden person (for no good reason)...and that was before I had kids, LOL! Now, well, let's just say it ain't easy being me!

What's hardest for me, personally, though, is that my step-daughter had her son just a couple years before my oldest was born...so now, here, this kid that I helped raise (well, from 'tweens on) LOVES to "give me advice" (i.e., correct me, contradict me, judge me) about raising my kids! AAARRRGGGHHH!

I would have to agree Suzy. I have some behavior issues with my oldest and I do sometimes feel like people judge but I don't let it get to me. I definitely would never leave either of mine in a car alone though....just too scary. And I am really strict with the car seat thing...it's just not worth the risk to me......but don't get my started on the 10 second rule (or the 10 minute rule sometimes..haha!).
My hubby's family are very different than me and will sometimes "offer advice" in a lovely condescending way...I generally answer with a "well, I haven't caused any permanent damage to either....yet"

There are some things I am really strict about (I never leave the kids alone in the car, always use the car seat and always make the kids use seatbelts,) and there are other things that I am very free about. And so I think there is a balance definitely.

Well, I think a lot of it comes down to one of the big rules of having a happy marriage...you learn to pick your battles...some things are negotiable, others are not. Certainly, matters of safety and health and respect are not negotiable, but sometimes, it's just not worth the battle over the toys being picked up exactly on time or put in exactly the proper place, or forcing him to wear a bib when it just drives him up a wall. So..we pick our battles. I also read not long ago one "happy mommy, happy child" tip, which was, once a day, to let the kid win. In a battle of wills, on some minor, negotiable thing, once a day: we should look the other way and let the kid win on this one thing, just so that they "get to win".

PS: Some days (don't judge me here, moms ) I let them win A LOT!