Shopping with kids no walk in the park

[Deerfield Girl]

This paragraph says a lot about you. I avoid the women like you, the ones whose 'highlight of the day'(as you said) is to stand around gossiping and discussing your sex life with neighbors/acquaintances. The highlight of MY day is watching my girls' faces when they are learning the alphabet or checking out a turtle at the aquarium. Life is too short to be so snarky.

MDK wrote:

<quoted text>
The highlight of my day was to get together with the other mothers on the block and talk about our sex life, money, whose kids were out of control and what to cook for dinner while the kids ran around like a bunch of animals!!!! I thought I would go nuts. I, for one, have more brains, ambition and creativity for that.

[Deerfield Girl]

Bella, put MDK on 'ignore'! You rock! She doesn't >:()

Bella_from_CT wrote:

<quoted text>
MDK, on these boards, you consistantly write as though you have all the knowledge of the universe. Congratulations that you did not think being home with your kids was stressful. Newsflash: that does NOT mean it is not stressful for many (if not MOST) others.
I myself found working full time and taking care of my kids MUCH less stressful than being home full time with them. And yes, of course, my home duties kicked in (and still do) the moment I walk through the door.
Does that mean your experience does not matter? Of course not. I will not belittle your own life experience. Too bad you feel such a need to belittle the life experiences of others. But of course that says much more about you than it does about any given thing you may be sermonizing about.

[MDK]

Deerfield Girl wrote:

Bella, put MDK on 'ignore'! You rock! She doesn't >:()
<quoted text>

Ohhhh, you two remind me of those babes I used to hang with. Yeah know, real dummies. Haven't grown up much have you? Lololol. You're really hurting my feelings!!!!!

[TamoraRose]

MDK wrote:

I was a SAHM for over 10 years and it was NOT difficult. But the development of oneself it was a total nightmare. The highlight of my day was to get together with the other mothers on the block and talk about our sex life, money, whose kids were out of control and what to cook for dinner while the kids ran around like a bunch of animals!!!! I thought I would go nuts. I, for one, have more brains, ambition and creativity for that.

That's what you did for 10 years? Yuck. I'm surprised you're not ashamed to admit it out loud. Too bad you didn't use your brains, ambition and creativity during that time. It would have been better for your children.

[MDK]

TamoraRose wrote:

<quoted text>
That's what you did for 10 years? Yuck. I'm surprised you're not ashamed to admit it out loud. Too bad you didn't use your brains, ambition and creativity during that time. It would have been better for your children.

How do you know it would have been better? And is the reason I'm getting such backlash is that I let the cat out of the bag about how brainless and easy it is to stay home all day and run kids around, do laundry and cook. Please, even 12 year olds can do it. At least for a few hours.

I found going to graduate school, working and still taking care of the house a lot more challenging. So sorry your secret is now out in the open. Lololol!

[Bella_from_CT]

MDK wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm so sorry if it hits home for you. I am tired of SAHM's who do nothing but complain about how hard it is. PLEASE!!!! Such nonsense. I could come and go as I pleased. Sit around and watch TV if I chose to. Go to the pool, library, run errands, etc. But then again, my kids rarely had a fit in public. On those rare occasions I would just leave. But basically your time is your own and that is a gift that you do not have if you work 9-5.
If you feel offended, tough. What I am saying must have some truth to it. By the way, I do have confidence and expertise since I have been a successful parent for over 25 years. Why not try to understand what I am saying instead of taking offense and just dismissing it.

MDK, your comments do not "hit home" for me in any way. I do not feel a part of the SAHM world anymore, actually.

The reason you make me mad has nothing to do with comments hitting home, and everything do to with the way you belittle others, and the way you think that whatever you experienced in your life is the sum and total "correct" way to experience life.

As to your comments regarding being home with your children not being stressful....I said I would not belittle your experiences, BUT, I admit, you push me.

I am a professor at a college in Connecticut. I teach writing and literature. My job is actually very stressful for me. That is because I care about it, and I try to actually TEACH these students something. So I constantly try to create new assignments, using current articles and issues, etc. I work my arse off trying to make the class interesting, useful, enlightening, helpful rigorous.

And you know what, it is stressful sometimes for a variety of reasons I would not expect a mind like yours to understand.

And yet I have colleagues who have NO stress at all in their jobs. That is because they do things like assign one page essays in a college writing course. THREE one page essays. They do things like give multiple choice tests in a literature class, and show movies, and have their students do posters instead of papers.

And they have the same arrogant, superior attitude about not understanding why profs like me feel any stress at all. Once we learn to be more like them, they tell themselves with self congratulatory airs, we will also feel no stress.

I am glad I did not make the highlight of my day when I was home with my dear children discussing sex with my neighbors. I am glad I am unlike you in as many ways as possible.

I am also glad to have learned about the "ignore" button. This is goodbye, MDK, and I won't miss you.

[too old]

Being a SAHM is not easy if you do it correctly... meaning, if you actually spend the time with your kids, not on the porch talking about how to pleasure your spouse.

I'm glad she tried it. I'm glad it didn't work for her. I wonder if her kids saw right through her "Suzie Homemaker" act, too. I'm sure they did. Kids are smart.

It's such a privilege for me to stay home, since i know the hours my husband puts in to make it possible for me. Therefore, I consider it my responsibility to do as much with my daughter as possible... and yes, that means, trips to the pool, to Gymboree, to the park, reading books, etc etc. Sure, housework needs to get done, dinner needs to be cooked. However, there's no real break for a mom at home. At work, one can escape, take a "smoke break" (even if you don't smoke) and not have someone tugging on you every minute.

MDK, if there's any doubt about using one's mind, put it to rest... again, if it's done right, your mind never stops at home with kids. It's constantly working to try to come up with new, exciting experiences for the kids to learn from... even going out to the store.

(I have a master's degree, too, since we're throwing out that info)

I also used to work in the college setting, Bella, so I know both sides. It sounds like you put your best into both worlds. Good for you. Keep up the great work!

One day when I go back to work, I want to talk about my SAHM days and will be able to say that the highlights were watching my daughter's face light up at every "ah-ha" moment I helped her achieve.

Working moms have it tough, too. I completely agree on that front.

[TamoraRose]

MDK wrote:

<quoted text>
How do you know it would have been better? And is the reason I'm getting such backlash is that I let the cat out of the bag about how brainless and easy it is to stay home all day and run kids around, do laundry and cook. Please, even 12 year olds can do it. At least for a few hours.
I found going to graduate school, working and still taking care of the house a lot more challenging. So sorry your secret is now out in the open. Lololol!

What do you mean, MY secret? I have a career too, not that you ever asked before ASSuming.

The reason it was "easy" and "brainless" for you is because you made it so. I would not hire a one-time babysitter who was as lazy and negligent as you've declared yourself to be.

[TamoraRose]

Bella_from_CT wrote:

I am a professor at a college in Connecticut. I teach writing and literature. My job is actually very stressful for me. That is because I care about it, and I try to actually TEACH these students something. So I constantly try to create new assignments, using current articles and issues, etc. I work my arse off trying to make the class interesting, useful, enlightening, helpful rigorous.
And you know what, it is stressful sometimes for a variety of reasons I would not expect a mind like yours to understand.
And yet I have colleagues who have NO stress at all in their jobs. That is because they do things like assign one page essays in a college writing course. THREE one page essays. They do things like give multiple choice tests in a literature class, and show movies, and have their students do posters instead of papers.
And they have the same arrogant, superior attitude about not understanding why profs like me feel any stress at all. Once we learn to be more like them, they tell themselves with self congratulatory airs, we will also feel no stress.

Nice analogy! Your students are fortunate to have you. I'm sure many of them take your classes specifically for that reason: they want to learn, not coast.

[Eddie M]

It's getting impossible to go anywhere and not encounter screaming children.

[Colorado Chick]

Like we all were taught as children, table manners, social manners and respectful manners...Takes TIME and PATIENCE, that's all...

[Go Blue Forever]

Colorado Chick wrote:

Like we all were taught as children, table manners, social manners and respectful manners...Takes TIME and PATIENCE, that's all...

...Good manners cost nothing.....

[Amraann]

Deerfield Girl wrote:

This paragraph says a lot about you. I avoid the women like you, the ones whose 'highlight of the day'(as you said) is to stand around gossiping and discussing your sex life with neighbors/acquaintances. The highlight of MY day is watching my girls' faces when they are learning the alphabet or checking out a turtle at the aquarium. Life is too short to be so snarky.
<quoted text>

The highlight of my day is ripping my son Dickie's diaper off to see how large and odorous his latest turd is. He's over 20' so, presumably, he will be out of diapers soon. I breast fed him until he was 7. He still tries to grab my boobies, when he has the chance. He has been a dream child.
I used to model.

[Charles R Darwin]

Eddie M wrote:

It's getting impossible to go anywhere and not encounter screaming children.

That's because screaming children is a direct result of idiot parents; and idiot parents are proliferating at an alarming rate.

[Spooky Mulder]

My perfectly tempered child managed looking like a complete monster when we were in public. My solution was leaving them at home until they were a little older and they quit that crap.

[Go Blue Forever]

Mine were pretty good....they alway's knew that if not, there was time in the dogcage in their future......