Okay, I have not read everyone's responses, but for the most part, I cannot imagine why you would think any of us think we are better moms than others..or that we have perfect kids. And as far as griping about something going on with our kids...whether they are special needs or not...the board is for ALL mommies. My kids are KIDS...they all have their hang ups. And yes, you may deal with "OTHER" issues than what I do, but I guarantee that MY issues are no less important or less meaningful than yours are. As for what I am proud of...I am SHARING...not asking for a badge of honor. I have a right to be proud of the fact that I breastfed all six of my kids. I have a right to be proud of the fact that my children, one of whom IS ADHD, are thriving in public school. All these "silly little things" are what makes up my LIFE...one I am darn proud of. It is not often that a post upsets me on here, but this one sure has.

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No, I wasn't aiming that comment at you.I am sorry if I made you feel bad. I didn't post my vent to hurt anyone's feelings. I just happened to come by a post that made me upset. I too would like to shelter my ds from teasing and violence. But, think about all the schools there are and how many shootings.Kind of rare even if it doesn't seem that way. Our kids can become victims anywhere. I feel comfortable about the way our school handles security. The post I was refering to was one that stated basically because they homeschool then they love their children more.

Like I said I homeschooled and in doing so, I lost many services that my ds needs. I knew the moms on this board would understand. We all make the best choices we can, We just don't have to right to put down anyone who makes a different choice.
Hugs!

Thank you for all your positive responses. I knew that the women in here would understand. It's not like I am hurt by the other postings. In fact most of the time I feel sorry for them. To be honest I never intended to become a mom. I had big dreams and well my dd came along and changed all that.

Even though it is my ds that is labeled special needs. My dd struggles in school.I believe that she has ADD. Her tests are boardline so she has never gotten the diagnosis. She struggles with organization and in return her teachers think she is lazy. But she will continue to get by because she is pretty and popular. Is it fair? No.

My comments were kind of tongue in cheek. Soon I will become a SAHM. After nine years of being a florist I am leaving. It is sad and I am still not sure if I am making the right decision. My ds son has had more melt downs and tics at school . I think it is because our schedules are all over the place. I was stressed working and doing all the chores, appts etc.With my dh taking a 2nd job. My dh usually did 1/2 of the housework. So, now we are having to go on a budget again. Yuck! I am not against designer clothes either, By dd has a closet of them. I just get offended by those who put down others that don't have as much. This is mommysavers right? I do have to drive a 12 year old car to dress my dd in them. But if the car runs, I am good.

Cru5h.... I have read so many of your posts. I agree with most of them. I think you are as sarcastic as I am. You have made me laugh so many times. I knew we would get along if we lived closer. I am in Oregon by the way.

I just want to say that as my kids get older the harder it is to protect them. It is also harder doing it all. So KUDOS to all us moms that can appreciate the smallest of accomplishments from our children. I live for my kids but I do not live through them. I have many interests and dreams of my own. The moms that live through their kids drive me nuts. What are they going to do when they leave home? Go with them? lol! Just a thought. Thanks for all the love. It goes right back to you all.
Mitzi

I am not sure why this post upset you. I was referring to moms who use this board to one up each other and put down other moms.What part of my statement did I say that my issues are less important than yours? I have seen homeschooling moms put down moms who choose public school. I had seen other moms put down food choices, clothing choices. Moms that work, moms that stay at home. You name it.
I do not judge anyones choices, just their attitude towards it.

I chose to put this on the special needs board because I knew the moms here would understand. You do not know what it is like to have an autisic child. The struggle he has had to endure with test, appts, placement, new schools etc. You do not know how much I wish I could make him normal so he felt that he fit in.
You can not know how I feel anymore than I could know it feels to have 6 kids. I can't imagine how organized you must be. I would never judge you either. That was my point. I think most everyone on here got it. It is just how this one mom to a special needs child felt on a particular moment. It wasn't to offend anyone. I wish I could be with other mommies, I wish my son could play sports, I wish my son would get invites to more parties, I wish other people wouldn't stare at him during his meltdowns. I celebrate when he eats a new food and keeps his clothes on. These are our challenges. I just don't need others trying to make me feel bad because my kids aren't perfect. I don't need a perfect mom trophy. Perfect moms are as boring as perfect kids. I choose not to be judgemental when it comes to child rearing. That is my point.

Aw thanks :D

PS - just felt like sharing this. My older son is undiagnosed borderline ADD as well, and every year I am petrified that this will be the year they tell me "Your son needs supplemental education"...well this is that year. And I guess I'm not petrified anymore, not after reading some of the things the special needs moms are going through.

My older 15 y/o step-daughter sounds like your DD. She is skating by on her cute personality and prettiness. She's intelligent enough to get her through school, but it's hard for me to get close to her because we're soooooo different. But I make her laugh - the sarcasm, it bridges all the gaps

I think what you had to say was awesome. Here's what I got out of it, although you were wishing to be in other moms shoes at moments, it sounds like you wouldn't trade your life for a minute.

None of us are perfect. I've been on this db (in its various states) for a year or two now and I think it's great. We are all entitiled to complain about our situations now and again, know matter how trivial. I would never try to compare my life with someone elses b/c I don't need to. I'm happy and I believe that my husband and children are too. That's all that matters to me.

I hope you can see that this is a support mommy board. If you don't please keep reading b/c I'm sure you'll see the good ones in there. Good luck!!:D

I was very happy to find this site because I am a sahm and spend ALOT of my time at home with the kids. And as a child myself this was my dream. It is nice to have this link to the outside world. But I don't see it the way you do. Maybe I am naive but I don't see anyone trying to up anyone. I love reading everyones oppinions on subjects, the more intense the better it shows we are all alive. There are alot of what some people would consider small tasks in being a mom. Some are harder to do than others. Breastfeeding just for example was hard for many reasons ( engorgement, the only one who can feed, have to be there all the time, your diet etc.) But I personally made the selfless decision to take it on and see it through, because it was important to me, I'm not looking for my child to thank me later they being healthy and knowing I did what I thought was best is it's own reward. That's just love! I can be proud of that and on this site there are others who can understand. Sugary food may be on someone else's priority list. Maybe I don't share there view but I understand they are just being a mom that loves there kids and want to do good by them. I love getting advice here and knowing I'm not alone in this world. I grew up with a not so , actually pretty bad mom. Didn't really have any interest in us at all. I wish she would have taught me better eating habit and I wish I would have been at a better school. But if I was I probably wouldn't be thanking my mother cause those are things you just take for granted. It's what you don't do that is remembered, We are a great diverse bunch and I love it!!

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Very well said. Mommysavers is a spunky bunch with as many opinions as days in the year. We are never all going to agree on anything, and lively conversation keeps things interesting.

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

I hope nobody takes offense to what I am about to say, its not in any way meant to sound rude.

What I see here (and I have my moments like this as well) is that alot of moms are so busy to try to do the right thing, and be the best, and be perfect, when in reality, there is no such thing as "perfect" we ALL do our best as parents, we ALL worry about wether we made the right choice or not for our childrens needs, but we also have to remind outselfs to ENJOY our children, alot of people are so caught up in worrying and fearing the worst, that they miss out on alot of joy and happiness ( me included, I am working on that as well).

I believe a good mom is one that does the best she can, and make choices she thinks are best for her children, and sometimes we just have to accept that we'll never be perfect.

Our children grow up in a blink of an eye, lets enjoy them.

I must confess my transgressions.... I, too, am a Cocoa Puff, non breastfeeding, have ONE soda if you want to, ice cream eating momma!! And we really couldn't be happier! The only Gymboree clothing we ever had were those that were gifts for baby shower/bday, etc. I don't even really know what Mommy and Me is. I didn't play classical music for the babies in my womb and at the moment my kids don't belong to any organized sports. In fact, my oldest couldn't even make it through Tiger Cubs half way before I stopped taking him. It wasn't a good match for us. But that's another story. My kids act out, especially my youngest and my oldest asks questions about his sexuality and he's only 10! BUT, my boys are the most important thing to me, just like every other mom!, they are healthy, happy, for the most part well adjusted, and I work 32 hours outside the home, take online college courses and run my own business in my "spare" time. The miss me when I'm gone and appreciate me when I'm home after a long work weekend. I don't think I'm perfect and I'd never want to give anyone the impression that me or my family are. We also live paycheck to paycheck and sometimes there is waaaay too much week left at the end of that check! I gave up a long time ago to try to keep up with the Jonses. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I feel bad that we can't do things like take extra trips to the movies, heck sometimes we can't even RENT a movie! And the boys feel it too sometimes. But I know when they grow up they will never say, gosh, mom and dad were never there, mom didn't bf me, and I never got to go to the movies. They'll remember that dh and I were involved in their school and did what we could with what we had. Preachy, sorry! No offense meant to anyone that does buy non sugary cereal or anyone that did/does breastfeed. I just think it's a personal choice and no one should be made to feel bad about it.

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:D Tawny :D