My mom friends and I used to be really close but now that our toddlers are going through challenging phases, every coffee date turns into comparing discipline strategies and I feel like we're all secretly competing to have the 'best behaved' kid. The judgment is subtle but it's there and it's changing how I feel about these friendships.
More people experience this than they realize.
Women who found solidarity in early motherhood are losing safety as their children's behavior becomes a reflection of their perceived parenting success.
“Where Are You with Toddler development and discipline philosophy?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.