u/Strained_Noodles4033

Ideally short and sweet! I’d love to give the long explanation to people, but sometimes when I’m asked I just….really cant be bothered and sigh in my head.

Every family dinner with my partners side someone will ask the question, and I don’t think they actually mean any harm, I think they are just trying to make conversation but I never know what to say. I find small talk super exhausting and uncomfortable but also if I really get into it and the reasons why they look at me like I’m mentally unstable 😂

I saw a similar post on another forum and was surprised to see a lot of mums let their babies free roam the whole downstairs, and it’s made me wonder if I’m doing something wrong or missing something!!

My baby is 14 months and not quite walking yet but he is a menace, into everything, cruising along everything etc. I think if you have an open layout it’s sooo much easier to watch from the kitchen but in my house I have completely separate rooms. My house is all hardwood floor too. So I don’t do any chores unless he’s down for his 1 nap a day.

My living room is fully baby proofed, full of toys but he does constantly claw at the door to roam around, I let him roam but it’s constant redirection or stopping him from killings himself basically 🤣. We also have a playpen and a high chair we strap him into with some snacks when I need to wash a few dishes but he’s not happy in either for long. Idk I guess I feel a bit sad that he’s not roaming about the house like some other toddlers. I just can’t find a way to make it safe without him genuinely harming himself unless I have an empty house lol.

After 7 years of being with my fiancé I’m genuinely not sure how I’ve only just noticed this. Probably because at the time it happens I’m always hugging FIL or another relative when we first walk into the house, but one time I thought I seen in my peripheral that they pecked each other on the mouth. I thought nah surely not, my fiancé really doesn’t seem the type. So I looked out for it next time. We knocked on the door, they answered, usual hugs and hellos and sure enough they peck each other on the lips. My partner is 37 years of age and I guess it just surprised me is all. I think I grew out of that when I was in my teens but I know all families are different and I guess culture comes into it as well (we are from the UK). I have a toddler who is boy, I love him dearly and always smooch him, but honestly I can’t imagine wanting to kiss him on the mouth when he’s 37 years old and with his fiancé. I’ve noticed it is always instigated by his mother and then he follows.

Is this weird or am I being over the top over a peck, and need to get over it and let it go? I’m not going to make a big deal out of it or even discuss it with him. Just not sure how I feel I guess?

After 7 years of being with my fiancé I’m not sure how I’ve only just noticed this. Probably because at the time it happens I’m hugging FIL or another relative when we first walk into the house, but one time I thought in my peripheral that they pecked each other on the mouth. I thought nah surely not, my fiancé really doesn’t seem the type. So I looked out for it next time. We knocked on the door, they answered, usual hugs and hellos and sure enough they peck each other on the lips. My partner is 37 years of age and I guess it just surprised me is all. I think I grew out of that when I was in my teens but I know all families are different. I have a toddler who is boy, I love him dearly and always smooch him, but honestly I can’t imagine wanting to kiss him on the mouth when he’s 37 years old and with his fiancé.

Is this weird or am I being over the top over a peck, and need to get over it and let it go?

Something that completely took me by surprise and not something I’d ever thought of pre baby, is actually how judgemental other mums can be. Maybe I was naive, but I always thought motherhood was like a tribe and everyone had each others backs.

It wasn’t until I started going to baby classes every week, making a close circle of mum friends met online who all had babies born the same week, same gender that I realised. I actually found it hard to find a mum that wasn’t judgemental in some kind of way. Or maybe I just had a one off experience! It did take me by surprise.

It could be anything from peoples financial status, milestone comparisons, how people choose to parent in certain situations, weight, what their baby is wearing, how long they take off mat leave so on. And don’t even get me started on the breastfeeding vs formula debates.

Thoughts?

ETA - I don’t mean judgment randomly directed towards me (although someone made a weird comment to me once) I mean chatter amongst groups or people you have overheard or witnessed. And of course, not all mums are judgemental!