Although 90% of my time is taken up with DS and all that goes with him, i do find great interest in conversation about other things with friends both with children and without. Granted i dont feel as "connected" with those friends who do not have children but i value their friendship all the same. If i were to get the feeling that they did not value me and my friendship then im afraid that i wouldnt feel comfortable continuing the asociation.
I must say that DH is superb and although he tells me about his day at work (and the gossip) he always asks me about our day and listens with interest because he has voiced to me many times that he feels that he misses out on DS in a big way when he is working.
We talk now about stuff as much as we ever did and i do not feel that my opinions are undervalued at all.
That said though, i must say that "outside" the home i feel a little more insignificant shall we say when out with Ds in his pram. People are more dismissive. I have several theories regarding this.
1)i look relatively young, so maybe the presumptions people have about me are negative associating a young mother with a baby blah blah blah.
2) Again based on peoples presumtions, that i have nothing else in my life except a baby to "tie me down".
3)that its all i have and will ever do....be a woman with a kid.
These are obviously the thoughts of strangers, who quite frankly do not matter to me.
The people who matter to me are the people who know me and knew me before i was a mother, this is an important point i think. They know how hard i have worked for many years to be succesful in my chosen career. The fact that i have been completely professionally derailed by motherhood is a huge eye opener for me, but a brilliant thing at the same time.
Now i KNOW im rambling, but what a brilliant thread you started.Thankyou, i have enjoyed talking to you very much.