Welcome To The Mommy Club!
February 7, 2007
I discovered this week that I’ve been accepted into a new club – and I didn’t even realize that it existed! Have you ever noticed that sometimes if you see someone driving the same kind of car you’re driving, you’ll wave, because there is a sort of camaraderie? This seems to be especially true with Jeep drivers. Well, apparently with the Mommy Club it goes one step further. Instead of just a wave or a smile, it turns into an actual conversation.
Last night Xander and I went to WalMart to get the oil changed in our car. (We only use WalMart because you don’t need an appointment and they’re open until 7pm – it works so much better with our schedule). So, the lady who checked me in is the same lady who has checked me in every 3,000 miles for the past 3 years. We have never talked more than me giving her my contact information, and she asking me what I would like done with my car. Yesterday however, I had Xander with me.
The Mommy Club conversation always starts with “How old is he/she?” Now I’m answering, “4 months”, and then they tell me how old their child/children are. It’s like seeing someone who has the same secret decoder ring that you have. Instead of the standard conversation that I usually have with the Car Service lady at WalMart, I found out that she has a 2 year-old son, and that he’s been really whiny lately, so they’ve cut Calliou out of the approve tv program list, and that he’s really into trains lately, and that she bought him a Lite Brite for Valentine’s Day, and is planning on making a heart on it and setting it up as a surprise for him.
While I was waiting for the car, I sat with Xander in the little waiting room, and met yet another Mommy Club member. Instead of trying to entertain Xander for 30 minutes, I entertained Xander and found out all about this woman’s 5 and 7 year old sons, what she liked best about the infant years, and what is nice about the current ages she’s got. As I walked out of WalMart I was amazed at how friendly people can be, as long as you belong in the club.
Prior to Xander, I wouldn’t have had any sort of conversation with either woman, and these are just two examples – this happens almost every time Xander and I go out in public together. It’s neat, and it’s a fascinating bond – the fact that two strangers who both have children can provoke a lengthy and often very personal conversation is surprising to me. Since I live in New England, I’m pretty accustomed to minding my own business – not that people are unfriendly, they’re just quiet and cautious. Apparently once you belong to the Mommy Club, that caution is thrown out the window and you’re allowed to be as friendly as you want – who knew! The requirements for getting into the Mommy Club are pretty basic, but it’s one heck of an initiation process!!
I realized this recently too, Joe and I were one of only two sets of parents at a superbowl party that we went to. It hit me there. It puts you in this new category of conversation. It is almost weird how naturally it all comes! I think it is pretty cool. Lets congratulate ourselves on becoming members of “the club.”
Dude, who cares about the mommy club (though… I’m sure I will when I get there),
THAT BABY’s FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT, HE’S GOTTA WEAR SHADES!
I’ve experienced this too, Sara… Remember when we went shopping with Mom and Xander? You went to the bathroom so Xand was helping pick out a watch. The counter lady ignored everyone else, but came right over to us and proceeded with the many baby questions. When she started telling me about her son and offered advice, it finally dawned on me that she thought he was mine (and considering the good service I was receiving, I didn’t have a problem taking credit for such a cute baby… even though the thought of motherhood is enough to induce hives at this point). She even set the date and time for me and rang through an expired sales offer. So, I just may have to borrow my nephew for a few more shopping trips!!
Nice toy there on the car seat *wink*wink*…who gave you that???!!!
Still really enjoying your Blog…hope you and hubby and baby are doing great!
Hey Sara,
Once you have a baby, all of a sudden you become of interest to other people… lol.
I know what you mean about this “club”
You should come join the Just Mommies forum (message board) – the Sept 2006 playroom has a group of really nice mommies (usa, canada, europe even), all whose babies were born (or were due) in Sept 2006. So it’s really fun! Any questions or concerns you have, you’ll get great advise from wonderful ladies who go thru the same thing as you. Really fun! Here’s a link:
http://www.justmommies.com/boards/index.php?showforum=295
Cheers.
Hey Melissa – it is definitely a weird feeling, but pretty cool. I think we most certainly deserve congratulations for surviving the “initiation” and making it into the club
Hey Cait – it is true, it’s very easy to impersonate someone in the mommy club when you’ve got a baby with you. And yes, you can feel free to borrow the baby for shopping trips
Hi Katie – Xander loves that toy – thank you!! I’m glad you’re still enjoying the blog
Hey J – thanks for the suggestion – I’ll definitely check out the message board – it’s definitely great to have a support system of other moms who have kids of a similar age