I’ve caught myself doing it on more than one occasion. Every mom does it, we just can’t help it!
I’ve totally fallen into the trap that I think MY kid’s poop story is the funniest. Or I talk waaay too long about “this hilarious thing Miles did the other day” because in my mind it’s just “sooooo funny”. I was just looking at some old videos I posted online of Miles a while ago — THREE whole minutes of a 4 month old Miles doing nothing at all. Nothing. Nada.
Videos and stories only a mom could love.
It’s just that as a SAHM, I’ve completely immersed myself with babies and toddlers. My days are full of diapers and breastfeeding and Thomas videos. (And it just so happens that my kids are adorable and everything they do is cute and worth sharing!)
But, as I have several friends without kids — how many “kids stories” I tell is something I try to be conscious of. Not that my friends don’t love hearing about them. But there’s only so many “potty” stories one can hear!
So, in an attempt to not drive my friends, my husband (and even myself) insane, I know how important it is to have some balance. And sometimes I have to remind myself to shut up about my kids already!!
The problem is that since my days are spent saying “goo goo, gaa gaa” and “don’t pee on the dog” or “get that out of your mouth” – it’s hard to remember how to talk to another adult about adult things.
So what did we used to talk about before we had kids?? I can remember a couple of things —
1. Hobbies! Oh ya — I still have hobbies! Even though my time for them might be more limited these days. But I still love to bake. I do Pilates. I knit. I haven’t been on my scooter in a while, but I want to again someday soon. I can totally talk about any of those things!
2. Movies and TV shows. I may not be as current as I once was, but we still watch a lot of movies and tv shows. In our house we watch way too much HGTV. But talking about how we want to remodel our kitchen is a great topic that has nothing to do with kids!
3. Work. I can talk for hours with my old work friends about the mortgage industry and their frustrations with customers calling in mad about rates! And I make it a point to listen and learn when my husband starts talking shop about network security, in the hopes that I can hold my own when we talk about his work day.
4. Date night! My husband and I try to go out and do something unique for date night as often as we can. Dinner and a movie is great. But we just RSVP’d for an awesome Dia de Los Muertes party in Nov with make-up artists and costume contests. I can’t wait!
What about you? How important is it to you to talk about things other than your kids?? And how easy or hard do you find it??
I find the balance in asking others about their babies and toddlers and what the latest cool thing they did was. For those that are past the toddler stage or are not married, we make the stories short, and only tell the ones about the things our little girl does that blow our minds. But when you are in love with your kids, you can’t help it. Nothing wrong in that:)~