Gymboree has always been a fun place for us to take our kids and let them explore and burn off energy. Well mainly Paisley, but Graham will be running soon enough. But I've blogged before about feeling different from the other moms there.
I described them as movie-like moms who create amazing homemade crafts and clothes and meals. They join tons of parenting type clubs and receive all of the best mother magazines. They have a large group that regularly gets together for play dates.
And it all just makes me want to run the other way as if you're inviting me to your Tupperware party or other such girls only affair. I bail out the front doors and toss my semi-clean, ill-behaving children into my always dirty vehicle that is overflowing with large (non-car friendly) toys Paisley insists on bringing with us, sippy cups half-full of milk that we forgot a week ago, and a carseat lined with spilled Cheerios. I rush to the house that I have cleaned by a housekeeper and put on a TV show that I know will keep Paisley busy for a minute while she eats her non-organic, totally unhealthy snacks.
Today in baby class, the other 3 moms that were there with their newborns started talking about disposable diapers and wipes. They lost me at the part about scraping out the poo. I just got up and excused myself back into the wasteful, non-green world I live in.
And don't get me wrong. We recycle. All of our plastics and glass and paper. But anything that contained human excrement is NOT reusable in my book. I won't judge you for using cloth, don't judge me for my disposables!
But then another lady was talking about her birth plan to deliver at home and I just felt my head spinning. She's one that totally gave me a hard time when I was scheduled caesarean because she just couldn't understand why I wouldn't want a home delivery. Not only did I not want a home birth, I wanted lots of pain meds. And the thing is I can do jumping jacks this time around without peeing on myself!!!
The evening classes are so much more my style. They're full of working moms who barely have time to bathe the kids twice a week much less cook dinner at home. I give them so much credit because I don't even do as well as them and I only go in part-time!
Note to self: even though you have time to go to gym during the day with the SAHM, you do not fit in there. Stop trying. :)
I described them as movie-like moms who create amazing homemade crafts and clothes and meals. They join tons of parenting type clubs and receive all of the best mother magazines. They have a large group that regularly gets together for play dates.
And it all just makes me want to run the other way as if you're inviting me to your Tupperware party or other such girls only affair. I bail out the front doors and toss my semi-clean, ill-behaving children into my always dirty vehicle that is overflowing with large (non-car friendly) toys Paisley insists on bringing with us, sippy cups half-full of milk that we forgot a week ago, and a carseat lined with spilled Cheerios. I rush to the house that I have cleaned by a housekeeper and put on a TV show that I know will keep Paisley busy for a minute while she eats her non-organic, totally unhealthy snacks.
Today in baby class, the other 3 moms that were there with their newborns started talking about disposable diapers and wipes. They lost me at the part about scraping out the poo. I just got up and excused myself back into the wasteful, non-green world I live in.
And don't get me wrong. We recycle. All of our plastics and glass and paper. But anything that contained human excrement is NOT reusable in my book. I won't judge you for using cloth, don't judge me for my disposables!
But then another lady was talking about her birth plan to deliver at home and I just felt my head spinning. She's one that totally gave me a hard time when I was scheduled caesarean because she just couldn't understand why I wouldn't want a home delivery. Not only did I not want a home birth, I wanted lots of pain meds. And the thing is I can do jumping jacks this time around without peeing on myself!!!
The evening classes are so much more my style. They're full of working moms who barely have time to bathe the kids twice a week much less cook dinner at home. I give them so much credit because I don't even do as well as them and I only go in part-time!
Note to self: even though you have time to go to gym during the day with the SAHM, you do not fit in there. Stop trying. :)
I get your feeling. I've gone to several classes trying to get Roman (& myself) into one "we" fit into. I put him in sweats and a tshirt to go and I'm in basically the same. It's a baby gym not a fashion show! We're doing good if both of us have combed through hair. I don't fit with those mom's, I'm not bringing my kid dressed his best to play and move and have fun. And I couldn't care less what I look like to go either. I don't know what to say to make you feel better other than you're not alone. I don't do well in the girlfriend relationship area, In general. Girls are mean & too competitive for me, most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI wish we lived close- we could totally hang out :) My thing is- do what you want to do, but don't brag about it or look down on other moms who do it a different way. We are all doing our best, and that is good enough! (and yeah, if home birth is your thing, more power to ya, but my bedroom/bathroom is the LAST place I want to have to clean up after THAT- ha!)
ReplyDeleteUgh, that sounds awful. I am with you, when Avery goes to MyGym, she is always in sweats and a T. Why would you put her in a perfect outfit, she just wants to play.
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't believe that someone straight up judged you for a C-section, regardless of the circumstances, your body, your preferred method of birth.
Yea, I would avoid the daytime Gym too!
You are my long lost sister...Danielle goes to the night classes for the same reason plus I work! :)
ReplyDeleteCount me in your club!
ReplyDeleteI am a total SAHM imposter. I belong in the working world.
ReplyDeleteReusable wipes? Why???
As a working mama I can relate to the evening class moms as well! While I try to feed everyone healthy- its not always.
ReplyDeleteYOu will find cereal on the menu for dinner here and there.
And oh cloth diapers....yeah, no thanks. Cloth wipes....really? I just could never do it.
This is so refreshing! Thank you for making us feel like we are not alone in the way we are raising our children. It frustrates me to no end that women/parents are constantly judging other women/parents for their parenting choices. We're all doing the best we can. My child is happy, smart and almost always clean on a daily basis, this is success.
ReplyDeleteWe considered cloth diapers because my husband is cheap. Then they told me I had to not only wash them every day but also install a hose on my toilet so I could "spray away the poo." Uh no thanks.