I like your blogher post but am replying here because this topic is much broader than this conference.

I felt ambushed at my son's first Kindermusik class when he was 2. It was our first "group" class. Until then our world was much smaller. The mothers at the class (and since it happens at all of them, at playgrounds, at school groups, etc) were just as clique-y as my high school. That's saying a lot because the granddads of most of my classmates played together on the teams in the trophy case. My memories of that class are a jumble of learning all sorts of tricks about working with kids from the amazing teacher, happy moments with my son or watching him, and stress from moms blithely ignoring others or cutting people off. After I got over being blindsided I figured out how to cope with it, but still think it sad that we all were putting our energy in that direction instead of focusing only on the positives.

I really hope moms--everywhere, not just at the conference--will take your advice and open up to moms unlike themselves, and drop the competition with moms they find similar.

Christine...I loved your reflections on seaside memories with your parents. As a mom, I could particularly relate to the notion of letting your kids see you really let go...and wonder why we don't do it more often. Actually, I think this post tells me a lot about you. Why you work so hard and are so effective, but also how and why you so clearly give oodles of time to just sit on the grass and tickle Lauren. (or whatever) You learned both lessons and made the your own.

Jules
Founder, Daily Grommet