"I should have sensed the judgment the minute I arrived at the first playdate with four kids in tow and another on the way. Instead, I was thrilled to finally find my "village" that I'd heard so much about - a group of moms who met a few times a month at nearby play spaces and coffee shops to commiserate and encourage each other. I even brushed off the first comment I was met with, which, in hindsight, should have been a warning sign."
"The thing about mom groups, though, is that they often aren't obviously terrible. In fact, they check all the boxes - moms at similar ages, stages, and struggles, getting together for camaraderie and community. We all had similar jogger set mom uniforms and extra-strong lattes on hand, hidden in the pockets of diaper bags to make it past "no food or drink" signs at indoor parks (no? Just me?)."
A mother joined a local mom group hoping for camaraderie and support while managing five children. Initial encounters included offhand comments and questions about family size that felt judgmental. Similar outward appearances and routines masked underlying differences in parenting philosophy, and a small playground collision highlighted conflicting expectations about handling children's minor mishaps. The social response made the atmosphere feel exclusionary despite shared stages and struggles. She ultimately left the group and reframed community as a space that must accept diverse parenting choices rather than demand conformity.
Read at Business Insider
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