http://www.babble.com/mom/work-family/happy-mom-anxiety/
I try not to be fake. I try not to pretend. But sometimes, if I didn't pretend, someone might call the white coats to come get me. This (overly-shared) image struck WAY close to home for me. It's funny 'cause it's true...
This is why I love honesty among moms. Some have it together more than others, but no one has it together all the time. That person you think does? She doesn't.
I try to be positive yet real, empathetic instead of pitying, honest instead of fake-- especially in response to someone else's experience. Your 4-yr-old won't potty train? Potty training was easy for us, and I won't lie just to empathize, but the crib-to-bed transition was horrid, so my response could be something about readiness and patience and oh-God-I-get-it!-vent-to-me-any-time!
What do you think? How closely does this resemble you? Are you more worried about how others perceive you or how your family does? I'm here to tell you that the latter matters much more.