MOMania

By JJ

February 25, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this

What woman hasn’t fought with their mother/daughter?

I am OVER this stupid OctuMom, or whatever you want to call her. She is just getting WAY too much attention. She did it for the money (and attention) and nothing else!

By Jesse's Girl

February 25, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this

This woman has become internet fodder and should be forgotten. If anything else is done with this, it should be with the children in mind. She is no different than the thousands of other trashy women who refuse to employ any kind of birth control…she simply convinced a “doctor” to aid her in her insanity. We don’t…as a rule…punish/fine or otherwise reprimand any other baby-mama…why would we start with her?

And no…actually…I have never argued with my mother about how our children are being raised. I have proven to be far and away a more loving and effective parent than she ever was. But she did the best she could:)

By TnT's mom

February 25, 2009 8:59 AM | Link to this

I agree, WAY too much attention. If she and her mom are arguing in front of cameras, who is taking care of the 6 kids at home? I do agree however with the grandmother, I feel sorry for the babies, actually, I feel sorry for all 14 children. They will not have a normal stable home life.

My mother has disagreed with some of my parenting. She generally thinks I am too easy on my teenager. We have never argued about it, she has only subtlety told me what she thinks and I ignore her.

By TinaTech

February 25, 2009 9:07 AM | Link to this

I heard far too much about Octomom before I was pregnany. Now that I am pregnant with my first child I seem to hear of nothing else from my co-workers. I wish this woman would disappear back into the woodwork!
As far as fighting with my mom about raising childern it has all been theory at this point like to spank or not to spank and the idea of breast feeding in public.
It’s my mother-in-law I expect to argue with. She will be the one living with us after I have the baby!

By JJ

February 25, 2009 9:25 AM | Link to this

TnT’s mom

She generally thinks I am too easy on my teenager. We have never argued about it, she has only subtlety told me what she thinks and I ignore her. ha ha!

You and I could have the same mother. My mom is always telling me I’m too easy on my daughter. But I have “single parent syndrome” and I have a very hard time saying NO to certain requests.

Basically, I’m a very laid back person and it takes ALOT to get me riled up. My mom is uptight and somewhat controlling. That’s where we disagree. But we haven’t had a disagreement in YEARS over my parenting.

By Tactless

February 25, 2009 9:28 AM | Link to this

Will someone file CONSERVATORSHIP papers against this woman already to take control of all the tabloid $$ she’s getting from this circus freakshow!? She should not be profiting from this fiasco and the taxpayers certainly shouldn’t be footing the bill. Please quit reporting about this nutjob — the more attention she gets, the more $$ she gets. She makes me SICK!

By Brenda

February 25, 2009 9:28 AM | Link to this

I, also, am over the Octomom. I think her kids need to be taken from her. I have 1 son, who has cerebral palsy and I won’t have anymore. Three of her first six are receiving SSI and what’s going to happen with the newest 8? They are beautiful children that don’t deserve to be raised by the like of Nadya “i had plastic surgeries to look like Angeline” Suleman!

By Mother Of Six Beautiful ONes

February 25, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this

I believe Obama our pResident is the best example of a parent for all of us. He spend time with his girls. He is so wonderful.

By Peachy

February 25, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this

I agree as well, I am sick of hearing about OctoMom. I’m not happy I’ll be continuing to foot her childrens’ bills while she takes her 15 minutes. I pay my taxes and support government health care programs for the KIDS’ sake, not hers.

My mom and I are alot alike, actually. Every day I find myself saying something, making a face, or acting just like her. It’s funny how I always said “I’ll be nothing like her” when I was young, and now that I have children, I am proud to be even just a little like her. It keeps her close to me, since she lives across the country.

I will admit that she has totally fallen into the grandma role and spoils the daylights out of my girls, but I know if they ever needed discipline or guidance, she’d be there.

By DB

February 25, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this

I personally believe that Suleman made an irresponsible choice — but let’s face it, people make irresponsible choices every day, and it doesn’t make front page news. This one is just a bit more extravagantly irresponsible than most. I think that both the mom and the daughter need to shut up and get on with it, instead of talking about it in public incessently. Personally, I’d be humiliated to have those kinds of discussions with my family in public.

My mother and I have different styles, but that’s because we’re very different people, and we’re raising different children. She lives 400 miles away, so she doesn’t have a great deal of input on the day-to-day stuff. She thinks I’m an indifferent housekeeper (she’s right!), and, being a former public school teacher (but not here in the Atlanta area), she thinks our choice to go the private school route was a wasteful bit of elitism, but other than that, she pretty much keeps her opinions to herself. That’s fine, she’s entitled to her opinions, but I don’t feel threatened by them.

By Luis

February 25, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this

My wife and I disagree with both of our mothers on many issues. The largest issue we’ve had problems with is regarding how we allow our oldest child to dress (she is 13). We are both of the opinion that she can dress herself in any style that is suitable (does not show the chest/butt/tummy area). So, our daughter likes to dye her hair every color in the rainbow and in fashions from the 40’s thru the 80’s. Both of our mother’s think this is poor parenting since she doesn’t “fit in” with everyone else. However, we both feel that allowing her to express herself, without harming herself or anyone else or being inappropriately clothed, is just fine and builds self esteem and self respect.

By PinkSherbert

February 25, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this

Unlike my mother….I am a parent who is present. My mother was too busy out partying and running around with married men, while leaving my sister and I at home for days on end.

Both my sister and I have taken a very hands on approach to our children. We are involved in school activities, church youth groups, rec sports, etc. When we go out….it is usually “date night” with our husbands.

So when “June Cleaver” (as I call my mother) starts dishing her advice….I tell her to zip it.

By MommaRose

February 25, 2009 11:02 AM | Link to this

My mom was a mentally-ill, alcoholic who was sleeping with her married boss who happened to be one of my good friend’s dad. She died two months before I became pregnant. If she were alive today, her advice wouldn’t mean much. However, I will forever be sad that my daughter has no grandmothers in her life. My mother-in-law died years prior to our marriage and my husband’s step-mother who was my daughter’s only grandmother died very suddenly of a heart attack after being sent home from the ER with a “back ache”. When people talk about their kids’ grandparents and complain about the meddling or about the spoiling I want to just cry. Treasure those grandparents you’ve been blessed to have in your childrens’ lives!

By Jesse's Girl

February 25, 2009 11:02 AM | Link to this

Luis….GOOD FOR YOU!!! If you have good, solid, moral children…who the heck caes what color their hair is?! If the biggest debate in my home centers around hair color and guessing which decade of dress is walking out the door…I will consider motherhood a resounding success! Your daughter sounds pretty cool:)

By Get Real

February 25, 2009 11:14 AM | Link to this

Hey Mother of Six, How do you know how much time Obama-Lama spends with his daughters???? You are probably drooling over him and you are one of the numerous women that dream of sleeping with him. It’s morons like you that praise a man that within 60 days has bankrupted this country and shown what an idiot he is by his cabinate choices. Seems that he can’t find enough Dimocraps that have paid their taxes….so fawn away. Excuse me now I think I am gonna throw up.

By JJ

February 25, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this

mommaRose I feel ya. My child only has ONE grandparent, and that’s my Mom. My dad passed away when my daughter was 18 months, and her paternal grandparents have never made contact with us.

Hell, my daughter’s own father doesn’t even see her. Thank goodness for my brother, her Uncle.

By Denise

February 25, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

I’m over this broad as well but maybe if she’s getting paid, she can take care of those kids. I’m still confused WHY she went to a fertility clinic when she already had SIX kids.

I don’t have children but I can see how my mother and father treat my niece and nephews differently than they treated me and my brother. My mother has issues with my sister-in-law’s (lack of) parenting (she doesn’t do JACK) but she only vents to me! She is afraid that she won’t be able to see the kids if she complains. (Yes my sister in law is vindictive and she and my brother are separated.)

As for grandparents, I’ll be 36 years old next week and I miss my grandparents even though I was older when they died. I have one grandmother now and I help spoil her. If nothing else, she knows that she is loved by her family (even when she gets on my nerves). It makes me sad that some people don’t know their grandparents or appreciate them.

By James

February 25, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this

Oh, please: is there ANY MOM, ANYWHERE that thinks their child is a better parent than they were?!

By Kool-Aid House

February 25, 2009 11:51 AM | Link to this

I have never had an argument w/my mother. That’s just something you don’t do. I also have never raised my hands to my mother as all 3 of my siblings have and they caught the backside of a chair, a broom, mop, whatever was within reach. I parent different from my mother because much like pinksherbert, I have taken a very hands on approach to rearing my daughter. My single mother was busy with 3 other children doing the best she could. I am able to provide better for my daughter and expose to a plethora of adventures. T.D. Jakes once said, it’s not a matter of what you can afford. Expose your children to as much as you possibly can. If you can’t afford dinner at the Ritz, go there for dessert. Exposure, exposure, exposure. That’s my motto.

Now, for the octomom. I truly do not believe she hears herself when she speaks. Her circut board has been compromised. The media needs to stop giving her so much attention.

By Kool-Aid House

February 25, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this

Denise, those silly surveys that float around asking if there was one person you wanted to me, who would it be? I have always put down “my grandmother.” I never knew her. Grandparents are the fabric of part of our heritage. Their wisdom/experiences is priceless. My daugther is fortunate enough to have 2 grandmothers, 2 grandfathers and a great grandmother in her life. Unfortunately, Nana passed away last year at the young age of 98!

By JJ

February 25, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

I have one of those “generation” photos, that I cherish dearly. It’s my maternal grandmother, my Mom, me and my daughter (she was only about 5 weeks old). My grandmother passed about 1 month after that picture was taken. I miss her dearly. She was 91.

By meme

February 25, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

I can remember the one argument that I had with my mom. I was 15. I am now 58 and I miss my mom.

By xavier & jayden's mom

February 25, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this

Get real-Its evident of how much time the president spends with his daughters in everything that we see on tv and in magazines. Everytime you see him with his kids, they are so comfortable with each other, the love that he feels for his daughter is evident in his smile and you can see it in his eyes! It’s natural and unforced unlike other First Families. No I do not have secret crush or desire to sleep with the man!! I think he is very smart, and has a lot to offer our country.- One more thing the state of the economy was declining long before Mr. Obama took office. Place the blame where it lies, on greedy corporate america. Not everyone bought more than they could afford- we bought considerably less than what we were approved for, I worked in the Real Estate industry, and my office closed due to the housing crisis…my husband works construction-his business has started to cut hours- we are barely able to make our mortgage payments, we are not asking for a hand out/bail out, just understanding and patience. For all of you pointing fingers and accusing people of overspending, please be mindful, that is not the case for everyone. Things happen in all of our lives, some of us are better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us…others are not so fortunate.

Now, back on topic- My mom and I have totally different views on how to rear children- she had 2 girls- I have 2 boys, and I think it’s my responsibility to raise them to be well-rounded young men. It is not her responsibility or the school/teacher to raise my kids and teach them right from wrong! It’s my job, and its a job I take very seriously. I discipline my kids when they are out line, I correct them when they are wrong and I lead by example. My mom beleives some things (like peeing outside)should be overlooked, because that’s what boys do!! Uh No!! That is why we have restrooms- if circumstances prevent you from using a restroom (camping, on the road, in a parking lot etc.)that’s one thing, but simply being lazy and not wanting to go inside up the stairs- its not acceptable.She also believes that behavior issues in school should be handled with a lot of reverse psychology- I think bad behavior should be handled with a spanking and time out in your room!! Depending on the issue, I will let some things go, but not very much! I want them to understand that there are consequences for your actions and even though I am not with them all the time, I still expect them to behave as if I am. I am no June Cleaver by any means, but I am dedicated to raising responsible, respectfuly, young men- I have to remind my mom that I am raising someone’s future husband, and I want to do just as well, if not better than my mother-in-law did with their dad. He is the best!!

By You have a lot of nerve

February 25, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this

Let the lady admire who she likes and as far as morons go what about the moron we had for the last 8. Did you complain then probably not.I am not drooling over the man myself but I do admire how he and his wife are with their children and each other. Stop drinking “Hater-ade ” and get a life…

By You have a lot of nerve

February 25, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this

Let the lady admire who she likes and as far as morons go what about the moron we had for the last 8. Did you complain then probably not.I am not drooling over the man myself but I do admire how he and his wife are with their children and each other. Stop drinking “Hater-ade ” and get a life…

By Jesse's Girl

February 25, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this

Your opinion is valid…but Hater-ade? Serioulsy? Who are you, MJB?:)

By jg

February 25, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this

My Grandmother was a better Mom than me or my Mom…. You do the best you can that is all that matters.

Daughters are pay-back for everything you did wrong in life (I have 2 and a Bonus Daughter)I was a challenge to my Mom - 2 of our teenage girls are giving us so much grief these days - when I call my Mom to talk about it I say the only one enjoying this is her because I know she hangs up the phone and laughs her butt off!!

By mel

February 25, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this

I haven’t had a parenting argument with my mom- she has taken her role of grandma very seriously, and if my kiddo is with her, mom calls if she’s going to give her so much as tylenol. My grandmother gives me her opinion and I move on.

However, in the Octo-Mom situation… if you are still living at home with mom while raising your kids, I think you lose part of your leg to stand on. I’ve got a friend living with her parents while she’s raising her son. She is about 75% dependent on her parents…. and has the nerve to get upset when they “question” her parenting. Sorry, if mom and dad are paying your bills, you are still a child to them.

By Kool-Aid House

February 25, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this

You know what, there’s no way this woman could be thinking straight and not be concerned or even show concern. Her aloofness is what makes me want to throw a shoe at the tv. 14 kids all under the age of 6 and she nonchalantly acts as though this is normal.

By catlady

February 25, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this

My daughter is an excellent mother. Better than I was, and I was pretty good. The only thing we disagree on is her use of a sippy cup for my granddaughter (17 months). Small potatoes.

I think I was a better mom than my mom in some ways. My children were not as insecure and browbeaten as I was.

What was funny was my differences with my mom when my children came along. All of a sudden my mother became the Queen of Jello. She wanted to serve it to my kids at every meal! That, and she thought the kids should ALWAYS wear shoes. Like I said, small potatoes.

I think both my grandmothers were good mothers. I know they were terrific grandmothers. I hope I can be as good a grandmother.

By WoW MoM

February 25, 2009 2:48 PM | Link to this

My parenting skills were very similar to my mother’s approach to me. There is a wonderful poem entitled “Children Learn What They Live”. It is a blessing to look back and have nothing but honorable memories of my relationship with my mother. I so hurt for those 14 children. Octomom and her mother were at odds before the last set were born…just image if the octuplets get to go home with her….poor kids!

By crackbaby

February 25, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this

My Mom is a far better parent than I am or will ever be. Her personal sacrifices and dedication to her children and spouse are worthy of sainthood. I am very very lucky. (and my handle is a joke).

By motherjanegoose

February 25, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this

My mother and I never agreed on anything. We fought all the time but she was a tyrant, so she ruled. There was never room for discussion.

She passed away 13 years ago. Whenever my sisters and I get together and hash over the past we always say, “It is a shame we never could get along with our mother.” None of us even misses her…that is terrible….we know it but ALL agree.

If one of my children said that about me, I would be mortified BUT I am actually involved in my kid’s lives and allow them to have their own opinion.

My mom was a one upper…if you called her to tell her ANYTHING…she could top the story. If you found a pair of designer shoes on clearance for $15…she had to tell you that she got a tube of toothpaste for 29 cents.

It became ridiculous, we stopped calling her.

When I was expecting my daughter, she called me with her calendar to tell me which days she could absolutely not come here to be present for the birth of her only grandaughter, as she had other commitments on those days…yeah right!

She alway had advice to dole out…right or wrong. Looking back, she was mostly wrong.

She was irritating, opinionated and miserable. I did not know how real mothers were until I became older and observed a “normal” parent child relationship.

I love my own kids and would do anything ( reasonable) for them.
I enjoy that they are nearing adulthood and can teach me things that I do not know.

I have several women friends who are mentors to me, wonderful friends and show me how a mature mother can act. My first mentor was a Grandma that I lived with in college…not even related but we asked herto be in our wedding and loved it! My second, was a 70 ish neighbor who held out son for 3 hours straight while my husband and I went to dinner. There have been many others and for that I am blessed!

I only wish I could have had a mother who cared.

This is probably why I am such a go getter, to prove that I can do something right. In my mother’s eyes, none of the three of us ( sisters) could ever get it done the way she wanted it…sad but true!

Also, I love my step mom who is married to my Dad…she is a saint and I would take her over my bio mom any day of the week!

thanks for letting me vent….yikes!

catlady…I laughed at the jello story…my mom was the QUEEN of jello!

By Pat J.

February 25, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this

My mother! She had 5 kids and we all ate what was on the table and were in bed by 8pm. Of course we were on peragoric drops until 10 :)

By Pat J.

February 25, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this

My mother! She had 5 kids and we all ate what was on the table and were in bed by 8pm. Of course we were on peragoric drops until 10 :)

By motherjanegoose

February 25, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

Forgot to mention this…

After my daughter was born a precious hand knit sweater set arrived in the mail. It was lovely, with booties and a bonnet. When I took it out of the box, a note fell out that said: Please send a check for $35 to _.

I called my Mother to see what was up with the note and she told me, “___’s Mom is in the retirement center and she needs something to do, so I ordered that sweater set for the baby and that is what she charges. Please send her a check…” See why we do not miss our mother? When you order something for your own grandbaby, perhaps you should pay for it yourself!

My 70 is neighbor held our son for our first night out since he was born and loved him more than his own Grandmother who told us that ( at 50) she was too old to keep her grandchildren.

Pat J….I forgot about peragoric…do they still make it?

By CleverShrew

February 25, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

MJG,

your mom sounds just like my mom! The one-upmanship, its crazy!

I don’t have any kids yet (still trying) but I can already tell you we are going to have issues. She even butts in now with how i raise my dogs!

Of course, I don’t really plan on listening. She did the best she could with me I guess, but I practically raised myself from 5 years old on. I was left alone all the time because she was a single mom and had to work. So I never really learned much about parenting. However, when she married my stepdad and had my sister, she smothered that poor child to DEATH! Do you knwo she was actually still grinding her food for her at age 6??? And still picking out clothes at age 13? crazy!

I have vowed to never be like my mom as a parent, to save my children from not missing me!

By fk

February 25, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

Haven’t argued with my mother since I was a teenager. I talk to her at least 3x a week. There are many miles that separate us, and it’s so hard to say good-bye to my parents at the end of a visit. She has never made a negative comment regarding my parenting skills, nor any to my siblings, regarding child-rearing, but will offer advice. My sister-in-law says that she follows my mom’s lead and bites her tongue rather than start an argument with my niece. Smart women. I have to say that my mother has become very generous in her senior years. She sends my son a check for a good report card, his b’day, an injured leg, Valentine’s Day, he’ll get one for Easter, Halloween, etc. He’s 18! My parents have a good relationship with all of their children, grandchildren and the great-granchildren love going to Gigi’s.

By motherjanegoose

February 25, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this

fk…you are VERY lucky! My in laws sent me baby gifts that were purchased at a garage sale when our son was born. They were worn, dirty and smelled like smoke. I tossed them right into the trash.

We have nutty parents on both sides clevershrew but we found our way. I only know this because people tell me all the time what nice kids I have, so I must have done something right….LOL!

By catlady

February 25, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this

MJG, what makes the “Queen of Jello” even funnier is that when I was a child (and I was an only child) it took an act of Congress—actually a very bad stomach virus—to get my mom to fix Jello. Then, Boom! when my daughter was born Jello became one of the foods necessary for life, according to my mother.

I think it bugged her that my kids had excellent appetities and would eat almost anything. My dad and I were both picky eaters. When we would go visit (a couple of times a year) she would talk about how the kids ate her out of house and home, especially fruit and cheese and juice and vegetables! I would not let them kill their appetites on sweet tea and cookies and jello. I found out later that the kids were bothered by her comments about how much they ate.

By fk

February 25, 2009 7:33 PM | Link to this

MJG: Thanks. I do realize that. I’m sorry that you did not get to experience a good relationship with your mother. You have the opportunity to do it with your children and their future families. Lucky you!

We are a large, but close family. Both of my parents came from close families. My mother was the youngest of 8 (a bit spoiled, I imagine). We saw our aunts and uncles & cousins quite frequently, even tho we lived an hour away from most of them. My dad was the only boy with three sisters. They thought the sun rose and set over him. My parents instilled those same traits in us, as well as my aunts and uncles did with my cousins. We, the siblings, argue, but never do the silent treatment routine. We don’t see all the cousins that often, but every few years, not just at funerals.

Five years ago, my mom turned 80. We threw a huge surprise party for her.(and the huge part was a pretty big surprise to us b/c everyone accepted the invite!) We wound up with something like 140 people. My cousins came, with their families, from as far away as FL & KS (the party was on LI). I wrote a poem about my mother’s life and my sister-in-law created the invitation with a photo of my mother, in her Communion dress, when she was 8, & the poem. This one lady was so excited to have been included, and just loved the invivation so, that she carried it all around town with her. She showed it to the next person in line, the receptionist, the cashier, etc. Everyone in that town knew my mother was turning 80! Mom was a good sport about it.

It is wonderful to see the next generation of cousins so close. I was pre-teen to early teenager when most of my nieces and nephews were born. They, too, are close and socialize outside of family functions. My son is an only child, but I know he will never be alone in this world because, even tho he lives hundreds of miles away, he is always included.

By motherjanegoose

February 25, 2009 7:53 PM | Link to this

catlady… But did your Mom own the cookbook:

THE JOYS OF JELLO?

My mom had every mold imaginable…

We had cracked ice jello ( kind of like little jello cubes all cut up and then molded in a mixture of cream cheese and lemon jello), lime with pear jello, orange cream cheese jello, strawberry jello etc.

Does anyone remember that Jello 123…most of you are not old enough…it would mold into 3 layers…are you in catlady? LOL

I think we ate jello at least 5 nights per week. Funny thing was that when I got married…my in laws all ooed and aahed over my husband’s grandmother’s jello “dessert”: strawberry jello with a can of fruit cocktail dumped in and cool whip on top. I laughed so hard…those folks did not KNOW Jello variations like I did!

fk…that sounds like so much fun and a fitting gift for wonderful Mother.

My sisters and I are close, especially the one who loves here and she is GREAT with my kids.

I am turning 50 this year and teased my daughter that she needed to plan a party for me. She asks, “who should we invite?” I am thinking that most of my friends are under 6 and maybe we could have it at Chuck E. Cheese….lol! I will keep you posted!

By FCM

February 26, 2009 7:14 AM | Link to this

My parents and I have had our moments. They are much more mellow now than I remember growing up.

They are two of the people I go ask opinions of often. I do not always do what they suggest but I take the input into account.

My father stepped in when my ex left the picture. He makes sure that the kids have a male bonding experience….The kids garden, cook, and go do stuff with them. As a result my kids have a good relationship with them. I am thankful.

My parents call to speak to the kids and ask them stuff. They go to the soccer games.

When report cards and other news worthy events occur the kids call both sets of grands to talk.

By catlady

February 26, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this

MJC—no, no jello cookbook for my mom. We rarely had any of it when I was growing up, and when we did it was just one flavor plopped in a bowl. I thought it was wild when the school put fruit in it.

I do remember the Jello 1 2 3.

I’ve just never been one for jello, I guess. Seems like empty calories and food coloring to me. My babies were big so I steered them away from sweets except for fruit and occasional homemade cookies.

I have a Campbell’s cookbook that tells a million things you can do with condensed soups—like you’d want to!