long time lurker

[buttercup784ever]

I've been reading this forum for around 2 years. I signed up last year, posted a couple times, then went back to lurking. So here I am officially introducing myself...

I'm a 31 yr old mom of two. My daughter is 11, and my son is 7. I work pt as a sleep tech. I've been married to my husband for 11 years, and we're best friends. So much so that we hardly ever feel the need to hang around anybody else. Other people are just weird.

We are both liberal secular humanists. My in-laws live 500 miles away. They are conservative charismatic Christians. They think we're weird for not spanking our kids, and constantly ask if we've found a church. My mom lives 5 minutes away. She likes to undermine us by feeding our kids lots of junk food and letting them watch Family Guy and South Park. Hilarity ensues.

My kids are very average and totally normal despite being raised by two people who are admittedly "just winging it". On a scale of 1 to 10 for crunchiness, 1 being totally mainstream, 10 being commune living hippies, we're about a 5 for the continental U.S. For South Texas we are around an 8.

Anyway, that's my story.

[Maluhia]

Welcome - sounds like you will fit right in here

[MommyDaddynMe]

Hi,

I'm a lurker too and just signed up the other day as well. I can relate to the situations between inlaw's. My husband and I subscribe to more progressive views including the practice of attachment parenting techniques and we have been met also with criticism, contempt, and ridicule; its hard to remain close to my family. And because my family is dysfunctional, family time usually revolves around picking one another's perceived flaws so you can imagine how much we look forward to the conversations produced at family gatherings.
I hope we both find support here.

-Lori

[buttercup784ever]

Your family does that too??

I just try not to say anything about politics, religion, or child-rearing while I'm around them. Unfortunately, they like to say things they know we'll find offensive, and then laugh hysterically as if we don't "get" that they're making fun of us. Good times.

[LittleBlessings]

welcome and i love your user name

[MommyDaddynMe]

Yes they do, and they also do what your family does ( try to instigate or just throw out there view they know are contrary to ours), knowing we are holding our tongues to keep peace but really they are being childish/disrespectful and I'm just fed up really. The worst is that many of their views are just taken up from other and are not scrutinized- admittedly!!!
Although i feel somewhat relieved that I am not alone in these experiences, the feeling doesn't last long as I know these situations are tough for you too.

[proudmomof4]

Hello and welcome to MDC!

[Peacemamalove]

[Irishmommy]

Welcome to Mothering!

[Kidzaplenty]

Welcome to MDC!