Momxiety

That's what I call it.

Why do mothers all subject themselves to it? And constantly compare what they do with other mothers?
It turns good friends into foes.

For example.

I choose to send Madison to specific classes now because I think in the long term she will benefit from it. Take tennis. It's so much easier for her to develop eye-hand co-ordination and racquet skills now than at adulthood. Art class because it encourages expression and art specific knowledge and skills. All without pressure. No homework, no pre-class preparation.

Yet a friend of mine criticizes the fact that I pay to send her to art when she can buy supplies at less and do it herself. Repeatedly commenting about it when we meet. And the fact that I have to shuttle her to the class. Even her friend made the comment :" oh, you spent the money on the ( art supply ) rather than art class, haha..etc.. " I think she didn't realize that I was RIGHT there. The ONE who actually PAID for the art class.

I mean, initially I let it slide but come ON! It's getting OLD. And it's MY CHOICE. We'll see the difference later in life. Then we can talk.

I get it that we all want the best for less but we can do it differently. I choose to let a professional show her the technical details of art, the techniques for tennis and if (my friend) doesn't believe that's important THAT'S up to her!

I think maybe she feels insecure that she isn't providing the same for her children so she feels the need to criticize? It's really starting to affect the way I feel and makes me not want to spend more time with her.

Oh... and we had a get together with some of her other friends and one of them brought her 2 kids without any help. I thought she was going home on a bus with a stroller, 1 preschooler, 1 baby and a carrier so I asked :" how is she getting home by herself?!" And my friend went:" we ALL did it, without help!" YES. I know. I have help. BUT I work. They all STAY HOME. And again, MY CHOICE. I choose to do it this way. It's easier. I get time out. They can choose to do it ALL BY THEMSELVES but it's UP TO THEM. They choose NOT TO WORK. Maybe they all have rich husbands anyway. ARGH! WHY is there a need to make me feel guilty about CHOOSING to go to work instead of being a SAHM who does EVERYTHING For the KID? Being the type who will stroller 1 kid and ergo carry the second everywhere. I don't want my life to be just ABOUT the kids.

ok. Rant over. It's ok.