In MY opinion....

I've always been an opinionated person. There was a time in my life when I was just sure my opinion was always right and I LOVED to debate it! (ie.... week long debate in the 8th grade with the pastor of a church over the meaning of predestination) Something about arguing for what I felt was right got my blood pumping! I swear I was meant to be a bulldog of an attorney!

That all changed after having cancer. To be honest, cancer didn't change my life THAT much but it did change my outlook on a few things. One of which was drama..... man did I love drama. You know how you're not supposed to talk about politics, religion or money with friends (I think sex is in there too but that SOO much fun to talk about with a glass of wine so we'll leave that in play!)... well none of those topics used to be off limits. I'm pretty sure I've ruined a BBQ or 2 with my passionate takes on America's debt crisis, Islam, foriegn policy etc...

Whether it was cancer or a coming of age, I've finally realized it's OK to have an opinion whether it's based on fact or feeling BUT it's also OK for someone else to disagree; furthermore, it does NOT mean we need to debate it! You see, in my former years.... it was not OK for people to disagree and everyone had to think alike (alike me that is) and if you didn't, I would make you ... doesn't that sound like a fun world? ha ha

Testing this "new me" has recently come up a lot with my new venture into the toddler years! Boy does everyone parent differently! The more friends we make, the more opinions fly. As a 1st time mom to a toddler I've got a lot of questions and we're figuring this out as we go. Pointers, suggestions and "this is how we do its" are so helpful but I find them most helpful when given as such... suggestions...pointers... and tips... not "you're doing it wrongs" or "my baby book says not to do thats!" Moms you know what I'm talking about! I bet in your mind you're making a list of people who do this or situations you've been in where you're biting your tongue so hard it starts to bleed! In fact, I think I have been guilty of doing this here or there and I really want to make an effort not!

I think as mommies talking about our kids is kinda like talking about politics.... it's a subject we're passionate about it! That doesn't mean we should STOP talking about our kids but what it does mean is that we should agree to disagree on how we want to raise them. Isn't parenting really just our opinions on how we think we can best set our children up to be what we consider (in our opinions) to be independent, upstanding adults? So if I want to spank and you don't... cool; If I think it's OK for my son to wear purple and you think I'm making him gay... maybe so but I hope he adopts one day; If my son eats grapes and you're sure your baby book says not to until he's 2... then it's a good thing I know the Heimlich....

To each is own, right... well in my opinion :)