So the cloth diapers are working out SUPER well. Thanks to momsmilkboutique for getting me a stash so quickly. It’s hard to live in the sticks! I still use a (1) disposable diaper at night, because I don’t think that the cloth would be comfy for that long…but Monday came along and I didn’t have to empty the DiaperChamp, and I was pretty psyched. I actually PREFER him to poop in the cloth, because then I can clean it up. If he poops in a disposable I can’t deal and end up taking the trash out right then. His room smells infinitely better. I’ve finally settled on a system that I like (after trying very few) but I figure I’ll go with what works. When I get some time I’ll put it all up over at LKG’s Reviews.
Today we had playgroup for the first time down at the hospital. It was from 9:30-11, and I was a little worried about the length of the program. Turns out it’s a music time/dance party/toy sharing seminar until about 10:30, at which time the parents are encouraged to talk about “parenting issues.” Which is code for: Let’s freak on Erin for suggesting someone put milk in the microwave. I KNOW ABOUT THE ELUSIVE HOTSPOTS, but you know what? 7 seconds in the microwave has never hurt my kid. (Let me clarify. I never put my kid in the microwave. For any amount of seconds. I was referring to the milk, poorly.) I used to warm his water in the microwave before adding the powder, and 11 months later I have NEVER BURNT MY KID. But the lady in charge had to go all, “I have to say, NEVER NEVER use a mircrowave for ANYTHING related to your child.” And I was all, “Yeah, and I bet you hate shrinkydinks, too!” Ok, that last part didn’t make sense. Later she asked me, “Why is your child drinking milk, anyway? He’s not a year old yet.” I replied, “Because I’m him mother.” The kid drinks like….4 sips of milk a day. I’m hoping he’ll learn to like it before we give up the formula altogether. And if it weren’t for the fact that Camper had SO MUCH FUN (and also the forty-something dollars I paid to go to this thing) I probably wouldn’t go back. I think Camper might be a politician one day, as he spent some time kissing the babies having tummy time. It was actually really sweet. I was very excited that he didn’t try to bite anyone, not one person, and that he took it like a champ when another little boy kicked him in the head. (I took it like a champ, too, consoling the horrified mother of Chuck Lee. Or is that Bruce Lee? Chuck Norris? Anyway, there was no bleeding, nothing broken, tears slowed quickly, no permanent damage.) I met a couple of moms that I was all “WOW, YOU’RE COOL, DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT….” and then watched them walk away and congregate in a little breastfeeding circle talking about what to do with their older kids while nursing in the mall. It was just like high school. Except for the kids, and the breastfeeding…But then I found a couple of moms who didn’t shun anyone that they don’t see at their meetings (Seriously, not all of us breastfeed exclusively for one year or more. I don’t judge you. I say rock on to you. I’m glad you were able to do that. I wasn’t. Moving on.) and don’t mind a mom who picks and chooses her mommy-obsessions, and just wants someone to chat with.
But yeah. It was fun. And maybe I’ll even find a friend around here that has a kid that my kid can play with sometimes. That would be AWESOME.
Tags: Camper, cloth diapering, playgroups
Oh, Mommy Groups. You’re right, it’s like high school all over. They either totally rock or they’re filled with Breastfeeding Nazis, and it’s a total crapshoot, so you can’t tell what you’re getting in to before you go. I have personally been shunned at Story Time at the library and at the playground on numerous occasions. If you lived in Puyallup, WA, I would totally hang out with you and not judge you. ;-)
Just thought I’d mention that I exclusively breastfeed and I HATE IT. The first few weeks (okay… 2 months) were rough and I supplemented premade formula bottles now and then (she’s maybe had 10-15 in her life). She wasn’t latching very well when I would nurse her so I decided to go crazy on breastfeeding and not give her anything else and worked REALLY hard at it. Now my kid won’t take a bottle or a sippy cup filled with ANYTHING including water or my own dang breastmilk. I’ve actually debated about NEVER breastfeeding another of my kids because of this. It’s just really hard to HAVE to feed your kid every 2-3 hours when she’s awake NO MATTER WHAT and nobody else can help you with it. Talk about not having any me time. Anyway, now that you’ve listened to my ranting and raving, I don’t judge you on not breastfeeding. You go girl! In fact, I’m slightly jealous. :) Oh and PS: my kid likes drinking from real cups and water bottles but not out of a bottle or sippy cup… explain that one! haha!
The thing that drives me CRAZY is that I have friends that breastfeed for Like YEARS, and they never looked at me like “WHY AREN’T YOU GIVING THE KID THE BOOB???” Some asked why, some didn’t and we just moved forward in our friendship. Some people do it and love it, some people do it and hate it, and some people don’t do it and love it, and some people don’t do it and always wonder if they missed out. To refuse to include a non-breastfeeding mommy in your little group signals to me that those women don’t have much more to talk about than their boobs, and their kids. And while I love to talk about my kid and all things mommy-related, I’m still me. There are things that are interesting about me that have nothing to do with my child, and I think it would help mommies everywhere to reclaim that part of themselves in conversations with new people.
[...] He was especially cute today during the Itsy Bitsy (or Ensy Weensy?) Spider. He DID THE MOTIONS all on his own. The teacher was astounded. I know! Even with me giving him early, brain-crippling milk!!! [...]