Hi My Name’s Lara and I’m a Know It All

Lara Hogan - 28 Jan 16

I’m a know it all. I always have been. I try really hard not to be but I am one. And now that I’m a mum I’m finding it really hard not to be a know it all to mums with babies younger than my one year old, Fred.

At one of the baby groups I regularly go to, Fred is the oldest one there now…the mums who’s babies were Fred’s age have all gone back to work and I’m now chatting to mums of little 4, 5, 6 month olds…It’s so hard not to give them unsolicited advice!

Yesterday I was hanging out with my bestie who has a 3 month old…in the time we hung out I corrected her on the age of her baby, how weaning works and the series of Gilmore Girls she was on (she thought she was on 6, but I knew from the description of the episode that it was series 5).

God what a know it all bore!

I also bit my tongue at baby group when another mum said she would be weaning her baby on baby rice…a midwife once told me not to bother with it..I didn’t say anything cos really, each to their own and so many times now I’ve gone on and on about baby led weaning to people who clearly aren’t interested…anyway, another mum piped up with the same advice I’d kept to myself and it was really well received! The young mum was so pleased for the tip…

That’s the problem I guess…there’s such a fine line between unsolicited, know-it-all-bore advice and actual helpful tips.

I know I always really appreciated advice in the really early days…as I got more experienced it was hit and miss whether I found it useful but I remember my husband had said “choose not to get offended”. So that’s what I chose…if another mum says “maybe he’s tired” or tells me they never feed to sleep cos it makes the baby reliant, they’re not saying it to show they know better than me..they’re genuinely trying to help!

Personally, I’m going to give myself some advice..Lara, just listen to people. Listen with a quiet mind instead of thinking of a example of my own motherhood that I can spout out when another mum is sharing their woes.
If they want advice they’ll probably ask for it.

Unless they don’t realise what season of Gilmore Girls they’re on cos that’s unforgivable.

Lara Hogan

Hi I'm Lara..I'm the mother to Fredrik, wife to Dan, wannabe dancer extraordinaire, would be ceebeebies star presenter, could've been Hollywood actress....actual Learning and Development Consultant. I live in London, I love brunch and fairy lights.

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