Ever meet a mom whos so smug about the stupidest things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Don't let others discourage you, PP. I feel strongly that the stories that feed my child's mind should be of the highest possible caliber, so I am one of those crazy moms who limits media consumption and "characters."

I agree it is impossible for most families, because if you stick your kid in daycare then preschool, then public, you lose control over what they are exposed to from friends and from classroom materials. I kept mine with a like-minded nanny, then sent them to a character-free preschool, and they are about to start a character-free elementary program. I know others who have stayed home partly for this reason. I may seem like a silly priority for some, but if you want to, you can make it work.

When my then-3-year-old saw Dora at the white House Egg Roll 2 years ago, she yelled, "Look! It's the girl from my pull-ups!" Only assocition for her. She is now 5 and in the princess phase, but the only Disney princess she knows is Merida (an intentional choice on my part). Other than that, we look for stories about princesses and queens who display bravery, sacrifice, leadership, and--most importantly--ownership of their choices. Her peer group is friends from her school and we have had only one princess birthday party so far. Her brother is right there too.

You can think this is a stupid or wasteful priority, but if you think it's impossible, you're wrong.

It is that thin line between raising a child of the highest possible caliber, and being a twat.

[Anonymous]

Ugh...LOUD...not load

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't let others discourage you, PP. I feel strongly that the stories that feed my child's mind should be of the highest possible caliber, so I am one of those crazy moms who limits media consumption and "characters."

I agree it is impossible for most families, because if you stick your kid in daycare then preschool, then public, you lose control over what they are exposed to from friends and from classroom materials. I kept mine with a like-minded nanny, then sent them to a character-free preschool, and they are about to start a character-free elementary program. I know others who have stayed home partly for this reason. I may seem like a silly priority for some, but if you want to, you can make it work.

When my then-3-year-old saw Dora at the white House Egg Roll 2 years ago, she yelled, "Look! It's the girl from my pull-ups!" Only assocition for her. She is now 5 and in the princess phase, but the only Disney princess she knows is Merida (an intentional choice on my part). Other than that, we look for stories about princesses and queens who display bravery, sacrifice, leadership, and--most importantly--ownership of their choices. Her peer group is friends from her school and we have had only one princess birthday party so far. Her brother is right there too.

You can think this is a stupid or wasteful priority, but if you think it's impossible, you're wrong.

It is that thin line between raising a child of the highest possible caliber, and being a twat.

I like specifically how this smug mom is smug about being "character free" and keeping her child home not to expose her to the horror. But, yet, has boxed her in the strict gender roles of "pincess and queens" and hasn't thought to expose her to any male figures to help her daughter grow to independance.

I guess Dora-Pull-up-Smug-mom isn't really all she thought she was.

[Anonymous]

Ok, now I'm wondering if I came off sounding doubly smug in this situation: I show up at another family's house for a playdate. Other kid starts handing me diapers with Sesame street characters on them. I show them to my kid and say, "Look it's a bird! You haven't met him yet, but he's called Big bird" and then I turned to the parents, "sorry, she doesn't know what these are." (=potential mistake #1) They assumed I meant my kid didn't know what diapers are because we use cloth which is not at all what I meant. I already knew the cloth vs disposable confused might have seemed smug and I tried to clarify that's not what I was saying and my kid knows what a paper diaper looks like, but maybe the "oh, she doesn't know Sesame Street characters" comment could have also offended.

Ufh people - I hope we aren't all so sensitive in real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once, when I complained to another mom that the daycare sent our toddler home with a face and nose encrusted with crumbs and mucus, the mom bragged "Well my kid wipes her own nose." Slow clap.
This same mom took delight in telling others my toddler asked for a hamburger when offered a dinner of sliced eggs, beets, and spinach. "Of course, Larla ate it,"the mom bragged. "She's used to that kind of food."
Eye roll.
When her kid asked for fruit at our house she told her no "Because that fruit isn't in season."
Oye.

bahahham sounds like the SAHM has too much free time and the husband should put her to work cleaning the toilets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, now I'm wondering if I came off sounding doubly smug in this situation: I show up at another family's house for a playdate. Other kid starts handing me diapers with Sesame street characters on them. I show them to my kid and say, "Look it's a bird! You haven't met him yet, but he's called Big bird" and then I turned to the parents, "sorry, she doesn't know what these are." (=potential mistake #1) They assumed I meant my kid didn't know what diapers are because we use cloth which is not at all what I meant. I already knew the cloth vs disposable confused might have seemed smug and I tried to clarify that's not what I was saying and my kid knows what a paper diaper looks like, but maybe the "oh, she doesn't know Sesame Street characters" comment could have also offended.

Ufh people - I hope we aren't all so sensitive in real life.

Depends, did you say it French, decline non seasonal fruit and turn your nose up at pizza during the same playdate?
Jk! Seriously though, at least you're self aware of how it might have come off. Truly smug moms don't do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once, when I complained to another mom that the daycare sent our toddler home with a face and nose encrusted with crumbs and mucus, the mom bragged "Well my kid wipes her own nose." Slow clap.
This same mom took delight in telling others my toddler asked for a hamburger when offered a dinner of sliced eggs, beets, and spinach. "Of course, Larla ate it,"the mom bragged. "She's used to that kind of food."
Eye roll.
When her kid asked for fruit at our house she told her no "Because that fruit isn't in season."
Oye.

I'm not into this in-season/out-of-season thing but we do get most of our produce from a farm share and I still think that's no excuse to serve up such a gross dinner. Why can't you cook something that tastes good? The kid probably would have happily eaten a tasty in-season meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't hate on Mindy Kaling - her show is so-so but it still makes me laugh out load at least once per episode.

Her book was outrageously funny. Quick read, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, now I'm wondering if I came off sounding doubly smug in this situation: I show up at another family's house for a playdate. Other kid starts handing me diapers with Sesame street characters on them. I show them to my kid and say, "Look it's a bird! You haven't met him yet, but he's called Big bird" and then I turned to the parents, "sorry, she doesn't know what these are." (=potential mistake #1) They assumed I meant my kid didn't know what diapers are because we use cloth which is not at all what I meant. I already knew the cloth vs disposable confused might have seemed smug and I tried to clarify that's not what I was saying and my kid knows what a paper diaper looks like, but maybe the "oh, she doesn't know Sesame Street characters" comment could have also offended.

Ufh people - I hope we aren't all so sensitive in real life.

Depends, did you say it French, decline non seasonal fruit and turn your nose up at pizza during the same playdate?
Jk! Seriously though, at least you're self aware of how it might have come off. Truly smug moms don't do this.

Your baby should have been born knowing all the Sesame Street characters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Playseum story. We were at the one in Bethesda and this adorable little girl spoke to my daughter in French. The mother said quickly and smugly in English "oh, don't bother honey, they don't speak French." Later, I overheard her bragging to some other mom about how it was sooo hard to find appropriate playmates for her dd because she's in a French immersion program. Sure lady, THAT's exactly the problem.

You were there so you know better what the mom was like, but we actually have been in similar situations, and I promise you I am not smug. I speak only my heritage language to my son so it happens to be his primary language right now, so when he addresses other kids (he's 3), it will most likely be in my language. At that point I tell him to speak "the way they speak in daycare", because I make a highly scientific guess ( that the other kid probably won't speak our language but will speak English instead. I will not complain that it is difficult to find playdates because I don't care what language they speak on playdates. Any chance the mom was just trying to guide her son into doing what's socially appropriate, i.e. speak a language the other kid is likely to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This thread took an interesting turn but I guess I just want to clarify that I thought it was just an odd thing to brag about, which she clearly was doing. Also, I personally think she has her head in the sand if she thinks her DD who has been in daycare, preschool, and soon pr K has never heard of "any licensed character". I also thought it was rude bc she was basically putting down the hosts entertainment.

You think the Disney hate is an odd thing to brag about? I FUCKING HATE DISNEY. It is the WORST SHIT EVER. Plenty of people think Disney is teaching the wrong thing to kids, especially little girls. Their main message: you can't/shouldn't go through life without a man.

But I don't mention it at all when I'm talking to people. So I'm not bragging about it or anything. We watch plenty of TV/movies, but no Disney. Ever.

I always thought their underlying theme was growing old sucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This thread took an interesting turn but I guess I just want to clarify that I thought it was just an odd thing to brag about, which she clearly was doing. Also, I personally think she has her head in the sand if she thinks her DD who has been in daycare, preschool, and soon pr K has never heard of "any licensed character". I also thought it was rude bc she was basically putting down the hosts entertainment.

You think the Disney hate is an odd thing to brag about? I FUCKING HATE DISNEY. It is the WORST SHIT EVER. Plenty of people think Disney is teaching the wrong thing to kids, especially little girls. Their main message: you can't/shouldn't go through life without a man.

But I don't mention it at all when I'm talking to people. So I'm not bragging about it or anything. We watch plenty of TV/movies, but no Disney. Ever.

I always thought their underlying theme was growing old sucks

The MAN is the PLAN! Pay attention!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not the PP but if you don't own a TV, I think the chances that your kid won't recognize a TV character at a birthday party are pretty high. We don't have one because if we did, DH & I would never talk; once it's on, we just zone out of everything else, which clearly not everyone experiences but for those of us who do, it's not some mommy crusade, it's just a lifestyle choice. PP could very well raise her child without TV. It's not that crazy of an idea IMO.

No, the chances aren't pretty high. Characters are on clothing, toys, valentine day cards, birthday invitations, gift bags, books at the library, glittery tattoos, hair bows, lunch boxes....It takes one person, telling a child one time, that is Dora or Spiderman and they will know it. Doesn't mean they watch the shows but they will know it is a fictional character.

exactly. it's the same way you probably know what Breaking Bad is, or who Mindy Kaling is, even without TV-- except times 20, because Mindy Kaling isn't on lunchboxes.

This did not help your point because I have no idea what you are talking about, and I am not PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This thread took an interesting turn but I guess I just want to clarify that I thought it was just an odd thing to brag about, which she clearly was doing. Also, I personally think she has her head in the sand if she thinks her DD who has been in daycare, preschool, and soon pr K has never heard of "any licensed character". I also thought it was rude bc she was basically putting down the hosts entertainment.

You think the Disney hate is an odd thing to brag about? I FUCKING HATE DISNEY. It is the WORST SHIT EVER. Plenty of people think Disney is teaching the wrong thing to kids, especially little girls. Their main message: you can't/shouldn't go through life without a man.

But I don't mention it at all when I'm talking to people. So I'm not bragging about it or anything. We watch plenty of TV/movies, but no Disney. Ever.

I always thought their underlying theme was growing old sucks

The MAN is the PLAN! Pay attention!

Lol I guess I always see it differently. If you're over 45 or so, you're either an evil witch or stepmother who's ugly and who everybody hates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once, when I complained to another mom that the daycare sent our toddler home with a face and nose encrusted with crumbs and mucus, the mom bragged "Well my kid wipes her own nose." Slow clap.
This same mom took delight in telling others my toddler asked for a hamburger when offered a dinner of sliced eggs, beets, and spinach. "Of course, Larla ate it,"the mom bragged. "She's used to that kind of food."
Eye roll.
When her kid asked for fruit at our house she told her no "Because that fruit isn't in season."
Oye.

I'm not into this in-season/out-of-season thing but we do get most of our produce from a farm share and I still think that's no excuse to serve up such a gross dinner. Why can't you cook something that tastes good? The kid probably would have happily eaten a tasty in-season meal.

PP. Yes, she would of...happily since her mom's a vegetarian.