Why We Tell Birth Stories

  At a party a little while ago, I was standing in the kitchen with some mom friends, one of whom is pregnant, and we somehow got on the topic of birth stories. I wouldn't say it comes up all the time, but when a bunch of moms get together, the arrival of your new family member, whether by birth or adoption, is bound to come up.

I remember being at my dad's house one Christmas. My brother, his wife and 3-month-old baby were there, too. Some friends of theirs, who also had a newborn, were in town and they came over for dinner. At some point in the evening, my sister-in-law and her friend went into another room to feed/change/put down for bed the babies. My dad says something like, "You know they're back there talking about giving birth and stuff like that." I replied, "Dad, you and (friend's husband) just spent 20 minutes discussing your kidney stone problems!"

My point is that moms discussing birth stories or teething problems or potty training isn't necessarily about sharing war stories and battle scars. A lot of times, these women are people you don't know very well and being a mom is the one thing you know you have in common. It's like co-workers talking shop at the Christmas party or runners comparing notes on a big race. 

So next time you hear a group of moms telling war stories, cut us some slack. You probably do it too. (But your story probably didn't involve a huge needle being poked in your spine.)