Want Expert Baby Advice?

No one is more qualified to understand what it is like to be a mom, than another mom-especially, a mother with a similarly aged child. When my daughter was a few weeks old, a friend suggested I join a mother's support group. Our meetings consisted of us sitting with our babies, looking at our babies, trying to feed our babies and most of all receiving support from other moms who were in the trenches. After the class was over, a group of ten or so of us started meeting at each other's houses. We'd ask questions, cry; laugh hysterically-whatever we needed.

During that time, I found a few ways to make the most of asking for and receiving advice in mom-friendships:

1. Just Ask - Most women have a difficult time asking for help. So, the best way to get advice is to overcome that challenge and just ask.

2. Listen - The first step is to ask, the second is to listen. It is sometimes hard to do so when you are worried or tense, but keep in mind, the information you get may be invaluable.

3. Don't Assume - It is easy to become isolated when you are trying to figure out a problem. Never assume you are alone in the way you think or feel.

4. Have Compassion - The best way to overcome any challenge is to find compassion for yourself and others. Guaranteed that you will encounter issues with your spouse, in-laws and maybe friends. The more you ease up, the more receptive you'll be.

5. Receive - It may seem unnatural to accept help from other people, but who says you need to do it all yourself?

6. Don't Judge - Call a truce on all judgment coming in or going out.

7. When Conflicts Arise - Conflicts are okay; it's the way those conflicts are handled that makes for important learning. If you happen to disagree with a friend, make it a point to talk with her. There are as many ways to mother as there are mothers on this earth.

The women who share their thoughts, feelings and experiences with you can teach you priceless lessons. By asking for help and receiving whatever is given, you build a foundation on which your child will thrive and your family will grow.