Advice from mothers about mothering

I don't know why I have babies on the brain lately, but I do. Matt and I aren't even married yet (10 months to go!). I am not in any hurry (not like I used to be...ya know...like when I was "younger"). I think because more of my friends are getting preggers and having playdates that no longer include me, I am beginning to have "baby fever" as they call it.

I have heard all kinds of advice from a variety of mothers I know. Different ages, different religions, different upbringing, different cultures, etc. They rarely ever say the same thing. This is very confusing for someone who wants to become a mother. Because of this very fact, I have a lot of anxiety about having children and doing things "right." I know, I know.....I am going to make mistakes and nothing is ever exactly "right."

Advice I have been given:

- don't spank your kids
- spank your kids...they need discipline (not gonna happen in my house, peeps!)
- breast feed
- don't breast feed
- don't name your kids all with the same first initial (unless you're nuts like the Duggars...love them!)
- don't feed them peanut butter until a certain age
- don't give them milk
- give them lots of milk, but only vitamin D
- enroll them in daycare
- in-home daycares are better
- don't trust anyone at a daycare center chain
- only allow your family to babysit
- hire a nanny
- don't hire a nanny
- read to your child when it's in the womb - it can hear you
- don't buy anything - you will get a lot of gifts
- circumcise...don't circumcise
- don't drink or smoke when you're pregnant
- a glass of wine or beer is okay when you're pregnant.....??!!
- half-day kindergarten.....full-day kindergarten

Ugh! The list goes on and on. What advice have you been given? What advice would you give? What works and hasn't worked for you, and why?

Emelia over at Trying To Be Good wrote the following blog post about the topic:

All the advice I have been given so far from mothers about mothering.