Friday, March 7

Communal Mothering...AKA The Mommy Harem

It's kind of funny--I was visiting with two separate friends this week, and this topic came up in both conversations. Forget "natural mothering." Let's promote a new philosophy--"communal mothering."

I'm thinking a 9am-5pm Mommy Harem sounds like a fabulous idea! One huge house with all of my friends and their kids together. The mommies could drink coffee (or martinis) all day long while the kids play. You'd have women to talk to while you unloaded the dishwasher, women to help another child if you were busy with a different one, and women to give you parenting advice when you were at your wit's end and had run out of ideas.

Husbands are great, and daddies have their place, but there is something about girlfriends together with their kids. I think it brings out the best in us. I hear these kinds of phrases a lot:
"Don't get up...I'll get the juice."
"Do you think he'd let me read him a story?"
"Hey, let me show you how to play the Wii, buddy!"
"I'll hold her--I don't get to do this very much, anymore."
"It's my turn to see why they're being so quiet down there."

Somehow, at least in my house, my husband and I aren't so considerate of each other most of the time.
"Do you HEAR him??? He's been asking you for juice for the past 10 MINUTES!!""
"You need to get your dad to do that--I don't do video games!"
"Here, Honey--she wants you. Oh, and I think she's poopy."
"Can you PLEASE go see what they are doing??? I've been taking care of them ALL DAY LONG!!!"
"And I've been working all day long!!!"

Every woman could do the things that were her specialty.
I've already decided that my specialty is watching TV curled up in bed. All of the kids could come in to my room and fall asleep in front of the TV with me. And the rest of you could drink your coffee (or martini) in peace.

1 comment:

Amanda said...

Sounds perfect! Can I be in charge of handing out snacks? Can't you just see it...one for you, three for me, one for you, three for me...:)