I can commiserate - it is tough monitoring your conversations all the time. I make at least one gaff each time we get together for dinner with my mother, my sister and her family. I have the added mine field of a ND nephew a year older than DS, so comparisons are common and a niece who has extreme special needs (6 years old, not talking beyond a few words, not able to do most things a three year old can do.) I have another sister who is always bragging about her children, who I think are both gifted, but will not listen to stories about anyone else's children without immediately bring it back to her awesome children.
It is nice that we have a place where you can "brag" all you want about your children. I know I am in awe of many of the posts about Amazed Mom's little girl among others (and also in awe that you have not gone off the deep end yet with such a high energy child.) That being said, it just isn't the same as having a live conversation with our family or friends and it is sad when we must police ourselves so much.
As for the topic of answering children's quesitons, my DH had an interesting conversation with my mom when he drove her home from Thanksgiving. She actually admitted that she thought that I would answer my DS8's questions much to thoroughly and with way to much detail, but could now see that it was his need for information that led me to give such long answers. (in other words, all those times I thought she thought I was not being a good parent were not just in my head
) She sounded as though she finally "got it" - time will tell.
Grinity, I have had similar experiences with children - they seem to connect easily with me, maybe because I also approach them as "intelligent creatures who have a smaller store of information."
