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Maplewood Moms

 The Maplewood Moms are often in the midst of a civil war.


Facebook becomes Gettysburg. For example, recently, some moms* felt angry at the public schools. After Ida, the schools didn't act fast enough to announce cancellation plans. Given many months of COVID, it's not surprising that several moms* feel anxious about new school-cancellations.

But other moms* said: "People died in this storm. Let's not be whiny and entitled."

Nothing grows out of this sort of conversation.

On the other hand, here is my favorite recent mom* post. One person wrote: "My own mother just moved to a house within a ten-minute radius of mine. Can you please complain about your own mother for me? Or about your mother-in-law? This would be therapeutic."

And the moms* chimed in. "I was still in the natal recovery wing when my mother-in-law (MIL) gave me a birthday present. It was an abs cruncher."

Elsewhere: "I had three children under four years of age. My mother came over one day simply to say, You know? I just don't remember parenting being all that difficult....."

And a favorite: "My MIL likes to talk about the long hours her son works.....and how I must feel so grateful for that...."

Briefly, the Facebook page took on a festive, merry vibe; I felt as if I were at a digital garden party.

Soon enough, though, someone found an interesting tree branch in a random Maplewood yard, and posted a photo, and asked if anyone knew who owned that yard. Other moms* said: "Why didn't you just knock on the door?" And the original mom* said: "Well, it was 7 AM....." And that became a whole thing.

My life, for now.


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