I didn't peirce my daughter's ears for cultural reasons. I also didn't do it so people would look at her.

I did it because mine were peirced as a baby and I always loved that I had them. She can take them out if she wants when she's older but I can't imagine she would.

Also, Lily Pulitzer and Laura Ashley sell at Costco. Just so you know....those Moms aren't all shelling out a lot of money for those duds!

I put a headband on my daughter also, but she's always had hair. The only reason I would not have probably if she didn't have hair is because I hate dealing with people commenting on things like that. Oh, and when I say "people", I mean my Mom and sister My friend lives in OK, and there the babies all have these HUGE bows on their heads.

And as far as the tutus in sand boxes, I know little girls who will wear nothing else but their tutu. A friend of mine has a daughter who will insist on only her dress up clothes. She's pregnant, so she can't deal with the argument and the girl just ends up in dress up clothes everywhere. Also, my neices were highly encouraged to play with boys stuff but they refused them. My 11 month old will go through the toy isles totally disinterested of the boy stuff and her eyes will light up if she sees pink frilly dress up stuff. She does play with cars sometimes though when we're at my Moms. So far she has very few gender specific toys, but I figure when she's older I'll let her choose.

Re: the earrings on babies. I meant to say for those mom's that it's not a cultural thing to pierce thier babies ears. I know many mom's who peirce their babies ears to try to make them look cuter and perhaps bring attention to their babies. I think it's so ridculous.....

Oooh - I agree with the 9:24 PP. I have a friend that does that to her son and he is getting really whiny. She says no to him more than any other word. I know she doesn't mean anything harmful by it, and she says it very sweetly, but it makes me wince as I have to sit by and watch this. I can't say anything to her about it obviously, because I don't want to be one of those parents that tells other parents how to parent and its not like she is "hurting" him. Oy.

Re the sharing posts, if you don't believe that your child should learn to share with others, stay in the cave and enjoy your life in solitude. Why would I want to be friends with somebody that does not believe in sharing - that is the defining characteristic of friendship. No, you don't have to let other kids grab toys on-demand, but I can't understand how a parent thinks it is bad to teach children to take turns and share.

On the other hand, those who teach their children that they will get the toy in 10 seconds, 1 minute, or whatever, that is also annoying. You are teaching that they can have something just because they want it.

I tell my daughter that she can play with toy when the other child is finished (and to find something else in the meantime) but I do expect that civilized parents will guide their children to share the "public" toy within a reasonable amount of time. When my daughter is palying with something and another child approaches, I do remind her to share with others - she understands and moves on. There do not have to be tears on either side of the equation if they learn about sharing and caring.

As for the food, I would more than happily share my daughter's snack with another child but rarely do unless I can ask the parent - largely due to fear of food allergies and/or giving sweets or other junk food that another parent prefers their child not have. Otherwise, dig in and enjoy!

For heaven's sake, teach your children the joy of sharing, of seeing others enjoy the same things they do. I don't want my child to grow up with a "what is mine is mine" attitude, but to take pleasure in seeing others happy.

People who don't share are, frankly, the most jealous people on earth and sadly see/teach life as a zero-sum game. Very unfortunate and, to answer OP, those are the moms that annoy me!

I find moms (and dads and caregivers) who don't let kids be kids annoying - what I am talking about is people who are always snapping at their kids "Johnny, don't touch that, Johnny, don't sit there" not that kids should be allowed to do whatever they want but I sometimes see parents who try to keep kids on such a short leash that it's painful to watch. Yes, Johnny shouldn't touch the live wire or the rattlesnake but let kids explore a little!

I have to do the "pebbles" look for my daughters b/c I'm growing out their bangs and it's the only way to keep their hair out of their eyes!

Re the earrings - for some, it is cultural, not to say "look at my adorable baby" (and if they are doing that, then don't look!). I am part of a bi-cultural family and many of my daughter's cousins have pierced ears. We did not do it, and my family/friends were surprised to see her naked earlobes - I actually have to explain why we did NOT do it. We did not do it, but because the last thing I wanted to worry about with a infant was keeping the newly pierced ears form infection - as if diapering, feeding and trying to get her asleep didn't keep me busy enough!

To the Mean Mom on this post - YOUR CHILD CRIES BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT TAUGHT HER HOW TO SHARE. Therefore, it is YOUR FAULT that she cries. Not the fault of the other mother that is teaching her child how to coorperate and get along in the world for trying to share at the park (or "life", as you like to call it.)

How sad and pathertic this mother is. She and her daughter must be very, very lonely.....another reason why mom does not know how to share. I feel sorry for her daughter.

(now wait for it - - she will post any minute now about how she has more friends than anyone she knows.....

My mother just bought those bow things that will go around my bald newborn's head. I don't mean to insult those who put these on their babies, but I don't want them on MY baby. So I anticipate fun times dressing my daughter with my mother. . .

Anonymous wrote:Moms who pierce their daughter ears when a baby, like look at my adorable baby! ugh...I find it ridiculous and it just does not look right on a baby. I say let the baby make a decisioin later in life if they want holes poked in their ears!

Also...mom's who stick the babies hair up straight 9on the top of their head) with a barret or rubber band.

and those ridiculous bows mom's put around the babies forehead

I'm with you on the earrings and the bows, but how can you not like the Pebbles look?

Okay, I thought I'd hate this thread (and some of the posts are annoying such as those who don't believe in sharing with other kids at the playground) but I agree with the bows in the hair of baby girls that have none, the wrap around head band for the same reason. But the Laura Ashley thing... I wish she was still around because I might actually consider it!!

Anonymous wrote:sorry, but I am not talking about a swing. I am talking about a toy. That said, I would not give up my childs swing time for someone else. Too damn bad. I will get off the swing when my child is tired of swinging. I hate when parents, nannies hang around like a hyenna for something we are doing, swinging, sand box toys, whatever. GO AWAY!
Hover over some other toy. Bring your own toy if it bothers you that your child can not take what mine is playing with. I don't let mine take yours either. Should we share the snacks too. That is so annoying, as soon as you bring out a snack, SOME of the kids drool over your child. Why should that not be fair game too. Whats mine is mine, and whats yours is mine too. No way would I teach my child that.

Why are you so bitter? With your attitude, you're going to scare away any potential friends for your child. They'll be afraid of the mean mom!

Moms who drive huge minivans that I cannot see around.