Why Moms of Small Children Need Other Moms of Small Children

The following is a conversation that took place last night between my great girlfriend Heather and I. Words we said to each other are in color. And parts of the conversation have been omitted. (Thanks, Heather, for the protection joke. It was awesome.) Anyway, this is why moms of small children need other mom's of small children:

T: How's the potty thing going?
H: Oh ... Landon's doing really good. Lainey's still won't poop on the potty. ... Hold on ... Lainey, leave brother alone. No, you eat your dinner. ... Sorry, anyway, I don't want to push her.
T: Well, you can't. Cooper's had two really good days, which may be why I have had two ... Cooper eat your chicken. No. No, eat your chicken. Abby, do you want some cheese? Ok, you can get it. No, Cooper, you can have some after you eat your chicken. You have to wait. Sorry, no but he's been doing better lately.
H: Oh, Chris called me awhile ago.
T: Yeah, I gave my mother-in-law your numbers this morning. I didn't know if you'd have room for his bike ...
H: Hold on ... Lainey, you stop, right now!Put your plate on the table and leave him alone.
T: Cooper, get your hand out of your cup and finish your dinner. Does she bully him?
H: Yes.
T: Cooper's got a bully. It's not Abby, though. Everytime he sees ***** he pushed Cooper or bites him or pinches him. Cooper, do not put all of that in your mouth. I know you want cheese, but you have not finished your chicken yet.
H: She's not that bad. But Landon takes a lot from her. Lainey Elizabeth!!! I have to call you back.
T: OK.

(Phone rings moments later.)

T: What happened?
L: Oh, she dumped her plate of spaghetti on the table. So we're done eating now. Landon, you can spank that bug. Get a shoe.
T: Well, I'm glad he called you. I wasn't sure if you'd have room for him to park his bike while he was in Jacksonville or not.
H: Yeah. Todd doesn't park in the garage so there's room. Sissy, that bug is outside, you need to leave it alone. I know you want to get it. Maybe when Daddy gets home you can go outside and get the bug. ... Hold on, that's Todd calling. (takes other call) I'm back.
T: Well, thanks for helping Chris out. Yes, you can have your cheese now. Thank you for eating all of your chicken.
H: No problem. Both of you need to stop that. Things getting any better?
T: I don't know. We'll see. How are you feeling. Getting any easier?
H: I guess. I'm having headaches, which I didn't have before.
T: You didn't have three year old twins before!
H: Yeah. Okay, both of you go get on your beds. I don't like how you're acting. Well then, you need to stop. ... Yeah! Daddy's home!!!
T: Yeah!! Toddy's home!!
Cooper: La-dee, La-dee, We love our Toddy!!
H: I guess I should get off the phone and talk to my husband. I'll talk to you tomorrow.
T: K. Bye!
H: Bye!

I had a similar conversation with my sister-in-law today, hot topics being potty training, nursing, kids growing out of clothes, etc. My friend Kalli and I talk and only 1/3 of the things we say is to each other. It's what keeps moms of young kids sane. Not just talking about things we're going through with other who are going through it. But not feeling guilty for the fact that in a 15 minute conversation, maybe only 5 minutes of it is spent talking to each other. When I talk to someone who doesn't have small kids, I feel like I am not giving them enough of my attention, even if they reassure me they understand. I try to banish my kids to other rooms (yeah, like that helps!) so I can concentrate on ... hold on ...