Expectations

Reluctant Mom wrote:

It give us the opportunity to investigate other people's points of view - and then to realise that it is just a point of view, because someone says it does not make it fact.

OMW! RM those are the wisest words I have read on this forum to date!

I use to get all worked up in the beginning (when I didn't have a child!), but the truth is, whether good or bad decisions all children grow up and when they are big and have to take care of themselves no one can point a finger back to you

We all measure our success as parents differently. I have two older sisters, one is in politics and an accountant, the other a pharmacist and I'm a stay at home mom - that doesn't mean that my parents failed in raising me because my mother was/is a SAHM (so I followed in her footsteps and have 'big' shoes to fill)

I love how we can all be open and say how we really feel and no-one gets all worked up :=)

You're dead right RM!

And "here here" to the internet!

I totally agree with you RM. We have to inform ourselves and ask "why?". And we also mustn't ignore motherly instinct and trust that somehow we often know best and, if not, we act out of love for our LO's and their well-being.

Thanks Julz - another thing to look out for! Retinyl palmitate. I'll add it to my list...

I am so behind this thread - whoop whoop!!

I think it is easier for us to be more comfortable with our choices and feel less judged if we are informed - and that is where books, this forum and blogs come in.

It give us the opportunity to investigate other people's points of view - and then to realise that it is just a point of view, because someone says it does not make it fact.

The more you read, the more you realise that everyone does it differently, the more it allows us the space to make up our own minds and be more comfortable with our choices.

By not investigating, by sitting and being inactive and allowing others to "inform" us of what is best for me is akin to ignorance.

We do ourselves an injustice by just going with the flow.

By questioning and investigating and finding the route through the mayhem of pregnancy and motherhood, we really - besides blazing our own path - can really take pride in our choices, and do not feel judged.

As we made these decisions consciously and with what we felt (at the time) with the information available.

I get really upset when I hear moms who do things because that is what thier mom did, or thier friend did - I always want to ask "But what do you think?"

It is so important for moms and moms to be to ask questions constantly "but why?" "but what if I do it this way?" "sure that is what worked for her, but what if I do it like this?"