disagree on the sharing when it is a public place i.e. if you are at a park and your child is using one of the toys/swings--sorry it's public and it is not your child's, it's everyone's so you need to be mindful that someone is waiting. If everyone had the "screw it" attitude parks wouldn't be fun anymore because the lines for the swings or other equipment would never end. I personally allow my dd on a swing for as long as she wants unless I see people around waiting--then I get her off and if I put her on the swing and see that the park is crowded, I only swing her for five minutes as a courtesy. Sad that some mom's don't think this is a big deal since they are on their way to raising a brat and no the world doesn't revolve around your child.

Amen, 20:08.

I'm enjoying this thread. I want to buy 19:09's mom a drink, and 19:25 was fun, too.

Moms who read five pages of these posts and then act like this is a horrible thread that is beneath them.

Venting is not mean. We all think these things. Don't act like no one ever annoys you. Give me a break.

No one here is trashing Moms. We're trashing aspects in different styles of Mothering.

agree! what a skanky thread!

OP- Grow up!!!! You sound very childish in my opinion!! As for some of these other idiotic responses!

1.) Generalization I know, but every mother ever who had a drug-free birth. Mainly because they think that singular--and dumb, in my opinion--moment defines their life as a mother--that because it came out drug free it somehow makes them a better mom than the rest of us. They always find a way to tell you within, oh, the first 30 seconds of meeting you, even if their child is like 5 years old.

2.) All members of La Leche, or anyone who doesn't know me (or does know me, for that matter) who thinks the phrase "Breast is Best!" (usually accompanied with a self-righteous clucking sound) is appropriate. My breasts = my business.

3.) Agreed on the counting (it's called "discipline," people--try it sometime, as your sniveling child is getting on my last nerve)

4.) And agreed on the sharing: my kid is having a perfectly nice time with whatever toy he is playing with, unless he is on a playdate with your kid, you don't, as a complete stranger, get to interject and teach my kid to "share".

5.) Moms who have NOTHING else to talk about besides being a mom.

6.) Moms who read The Secret.

7.) Moms who try to engage in political debates when their entire argument is based on what they heard from other moms at their school.

8.) All moms who are about to rip me a new one for this post. Just to preempt: I don't have anger management issues, you just get on my nerves.

My Mom had an argument with my SIL at a party we had once about this. My SIL's daughter wanted to play with our dog while my nephew was already playing with him. Keep in mind, my neice NEVER wanted to play with our dog really before, but now she did because he was playing with him. My nephew always plays with the dog. So, my neice was upset because he was playing with the dog. Her Mom told her that she couldn't play with him because someone else was playing with him....they would count to 10 and then she could play with him and they would switch off. My Mom said to her "What are you doing?". SIL says "What? You don't want him to learn to share?" My Mom said "You're not teaching her to share. You're teaching her that if she waits 10 seconds, she can have anything she wants".

I think the conversation ended there![/quote

]

PERFECTLY PUT and your mother is absolutely right. Never thought about it that way - but it's true. I have been watching this argument unfold and have to say I have been guilty of using the "ten second" tactic - but not anymore. I think the best thing to say in a playground situation is something like "honey, this little boy got the shovel first - let's see what else we can find.." etc. That said, I don't like when other parents feel they always have to intervene and solve the problem....I may be one of those moms that sits back and watches a little struggle over a toy unfold - I think kids should learn to negotiate these things on their own, to a degree. That's how I grew up - our parents did not hover while we played. They sat off on the sidelines and let the kids do they own thing...at least that's what my Mom tells me. She cracks up when she watches these over-involved parents coddling their kids in the park. Let them be kids.

My Mom had an argument with my SIL at a party we had once about this. My SIL's daughter wanted to play with our dog while my nephew was already playing with him. Keep in mind, my neice NEVER wanted to play with our dog really before, but now she did because he was playing with him. My nephew always plays with the dog. So, my neice was upset because he was playing with the dog. Her Mom told her that she couldn't play with him because someone else was playing with him....they would count to 10 and then she could play with him and they would switch off. My Mom said to her "What are you doing?". SIL says "What? You don't want him to learn to share?" My Mom said "You're not teaching her to share. You're teaching her that if she waits 10 seconds, she can have anything she wants".

I think the conversation ended there!