Don't you find mothers groups sickening, just an excuse to show off who is or has the best?

If you find them sickening, I'm assuming that you don't go to them. So how do you know what goes on in them?

I have a lot of experience with mothers groups as I have 9 children. Surprisingly enough they all have different fathers so I am definately the kind of woman who is need of support from other mums!!

We all meet up of a weekend to enjoy ourselves, and besides it is *the* place to source some of the best drugs!! It works well because some of us can go for a few lines or knock back shots while the others keep a watch on the children and babies. Although, it does get messy when we are all on another planet, but I am very popular as I usually bring my 14 year old daughter and she takes care of the young babies.

Sounds like you haven't found the *right* mothers group yet! Good luck!!

M : )

It's been a long time since I was in a moms group, so I'm looking forward to it in some demented way. LOL. The last one I was in was great, but I didn't have alot in common with most of the mothers ( my kids were school age when I joined and they all had toddlers ). I am in some online moms groups, and find the "my kid is better than yours" or the " pity me because my kids are so much more horrible " intriguing. LOL.

I totally agree with you. I went to one a few times, but stopped going because the mothers were just awful. They more affluent ones were always competing with each other and excluding the other people. They would ask questions like well how did little Suzie do at her gymnastics meet, then say Oh that's right Suzie doesn't take gymnastics, poor thing. The poor mother looked like she just wanted to melt into the floor. It isn't about the kids playing and socializing, it's about how "good" the mothers are.

Personally, they are not for me. I have friends, ones I made before having children and some after. I don't need to sit around just for the purpose of us all being mothers, listening to the gripes and "sharing" While half of the kids act like animals, and the mothers just sit there gloating about how wonderful her child is. What I don't understand is why mothers sware by the groups saying how great and trusting the other mothers are, and can turn to them for support...Didn't they have friends with those values before? But that's just me.

No way! One of those groups practically saved my life!

I had no friends with kids and no family around... joining the group gave me the confidence boost I needed to get back "out" in the world and was vital in helping me learn how to take care of my newborn. I'm sorry yours was such a bad experience but mine gave me a new life and about 10 new best friends, not to mention what it did for my children!

My guess is that you were in a mother's group and felt like you weren't as good as the other moms in the group or maybe they critized you or something. and rather than confronting your feelings of inadequency as a mother or confronting them for their rudeness, you have decided that all mother's groups must be this way and you are attacking them. Its natural for moms to want to brag on what their kids can do. Its also natural for other moms to feel inadequate when faced with a mother whose 3 yr old can do something her 3 yr old can't. For your piece of mind, if you are feeling inadequate, its not a competition. Just because your child might be behind other kids his age, doesn't mean you failed or that anything is wrong with your child and it defiantely doesn't make them better moms. There are a number of reasons that a child might seem behind. 1. You are allowing them to develop at his/her pace and enjoying being a kid rather than trying to prep them for college.

Not if you find the right Mother's Group. I have found mine to be an invaluable group of friends who I can turn to in any crisis, big or small. I don't know what I'd do without them!

To be honest, I don't know. But I am dreading being the oldest Mother at the school gates and can't see that I will have a lot in common with 20 something mothers.

Then again, you never know and I won't know for sure until i have tried it.

I don't understand asking rhetorical questions here, but my personal experience has been positive. We meet to allow our KIDS to play and we take the time to enjoy some adult interaction. Yes, sometimes we will trade notes and share when good things happen, but we also encourage each other and it's never competitive.

I am in a small group, and maybe that helps.

No i dont, i think its a really nice way to get out of the house and meet other mothers.