parenting forum?

lumberjack lolita · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 31

The "knocked up, again" thread has made me wonder if there has been any thought of a "crafty parenting" forum here...it seems that there are a lot of mamas here as well as non-mamas who like making crafty things for children (clothes, diaper bags, etc.)

just curious...

jean · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 10:13 am Post subject:

yes! we have thought about it...and i just wanted to make sure we had a strong community before we branched out. but i think it makes sense. anyone else have an opinion?
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honeybee · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 285 Location: appalachia

oh, i always have an opinion.

i'm all for it, as a crafty mama myself.
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textile_fetish · Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 4:22 pm Post subject:

I'm against it. I feel like whenever there is a parent-specific spot, it becomes the place where parents only post. Make sense? I'm 90% sure I'm in the minority on this one, plus I'm brand spankin' new here. So feel free to breeze over my post. It's just that as a parent, I prefer to not be pigeon-holed. Parenting will no doubt relate to all aspects of my life. Of course I know I wouldn't HAVE to post in that area if it existed. Maybe my points are moot.
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Kandipop77 · Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 1

I think its a great Idea!
I have been having trouble finding a craft site that
relates to Moms without being too gingham and ruffles.
Onward with the Mommys and Daddys.

Sabriel Olive · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 60 Location: Clifton Gaslight

I am not a parent myself, but I think a forum dedicated to parenting and the making of childrens clothes and snacks and games etc. would be such a great idea. I think it would give me some insight also, especially if a new mom or dad has a question, it would be great to post it and get lots of responses.

Athos · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

i{m personally quite against it. (and i{m posting from peru, so please excuse the typing problems!)

there are lots of parents only boards, and not to name names, but i{ve seen it get really ugly when there{s a 'parents only' vibe created and enforced by posters. it{s all well and good to say everyone{s opinions are welcome, but in practice i have not seen it happen.

i also think making additional boards of any kind should wait until the traffic increases enough to make it necessary. and i personally would love to see parenting topics in the regular section.

lizzymahoney · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 804

Athos and I are on the same wavelength. I am not keen on the idea.

I'm not a parent and I don't read parenting specific fora. I will read and comment on items of interest to parents and families on other areas, though.

jean · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:52 am Post subject:

Everyone's arguments for and against are really thoughtful. As a mother, I sometimes feel resistant to "parents-only" things. But at the same time, I'd love to talk more about mama-type issues.

I think that the most convincing argument against having a parenting-board right now is traffic. why don't we wait until our number are larger and then we can re-visit the issue.

does that make sense to you all?
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lumberjack lolita · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 31

that makes perfect sense. i was just thinking that if there were a lot of parenting-related posts, a parenting forum would be a good thing to keep them organized. but it's true, there hasn't been a large number of such posts yet.

lagata77 · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 21 Location: dallas

i don't see the harm in adding a new forum for crafty mamas.

if the forum is about crafting kid things etc, and not about parenting woes and advice, couldn't anyone be an expert on the subject? i'm sure there are non-mamas out there with some knowledge about knitting gloves, making scrapbooks, making (baby)announcements, lunchtime snacks or room-mother treats. i'd take crafty advice from anyone. and it may also provide another angle of creativity to get input from someone who doesn't have baby on the brain (as i do, being 23 weeks pregnant!).

and the fact that there doesn't seem to be a demand for the forum, could mean that the crafty mamas that are a part of this forum don't know where to post there topics.

~sara
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textile_fetish · Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:58 pm Post subject:

I didn't take it to be that specifically. I assumed it was to cover all things parenting.

Just to relate something kind of funny. I think before I had kids, like when I was first pregnant, I was looking forward to being a part of a new demographic, being a parent and all the special things that are parent-specific. I signed up for free magazines and coupons and junk because it was just for me. I felt all special.

After I had kids, reality set in. It wasn't so much that I was special, but more like isolated. It was easy to pick me out of a crowd, because I was the one with kids strapped on. GOOD LORD! I go to the bank and they try to sell me a children's checking account before they will process my transaction (every single time)! I have to pass them a note that says, "Please don't try to sell me anything, and could I have a blue lollipop, please?"

There are things I just cannot do, being that they are in un-kid-friendly settings. I don't resent having kids, but I don't like the feeling of separatism and isolation that comes with being a parent. I want to be part of the mix. I mean, I can contribute my knowledge of kid-crafts in a general forum. The internet is really the one aspect of my life where I don't have to arrange for a sitter in order to just hang out with parents and non-parents alike.

I know I said I wouldn't have to post on parenting board, but if it was there, I'd feel compelled. I'd want to know what I was missing.

Have you ever been part of a message board where someone insisted on creating a forum for gay people? I have, actually. I hope I'm not creating an offensive parallel. It just bothered me. I felt that I wouldn't be welcome in that forum, my contributions would be de-valued, and I'd miss out on some great voices for that reason.

Alright, off my soapbox, but I have been giving this some thought.
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soapandwater · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 945

I think both sides of the argument have some really valid points, but here's mine: TOO MANY FORUMS DRIVE ME BONKERS. Maybe I have some sort of anxiety disorder, but I'm being serious.
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lagata77 · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 21 Location: dallas

oooh, here's one that came up today that could go in the crafty mama forum: http://www.getcrafty.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=
1065
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soapandwater · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 945