When I look back to five years ago and think about the stupid things I thought about motherhood, babies, and raising children before I actually had any experience with any of those things, I squirm in pure embarrassment. Because despite having absolutely no experience in any of those arenas, I had Very Important And Loud Opinions. Actually becoming a mother changes you in ways you don't necessarily expect, and you learn quickly that the addition of kids to your life give you a very new definition of normal. But this can lead to a different variety of Very Important And Loud Opinions: The Declarations of The Experienced Mother.
The Experienced Mother (known on many Internet mom boards as the BTDT or "been there, done that" mom) is a veteran of many a diaper, tantrum, and sleepless night. These moms are strong and capable. They've been in the trenches. They've earned the reverence of those who come to them for advice... but sometimes they let their experience get to their heads and refuse to acknowledge that other mothers, especially new ones, might also know a thing or two. Sometimes, Experienced Mothers do not (or will not) recognize that that the game has changed on them. They can be a bit too free with unsolicited advice. They can be smug. At their worst they exude an air of...
No one wants to be that mom. So how can we avoid it? By never saying the following to moms less experienced that we are...