The article didn't really say if the first sister was a friend with the mothers first or if she was "just" another sister in the ward. Unfortunately some already existing friendships end when one haves children and other doesn't. There may be various reasons for it and when the other haves children too, the friendship may blossom again. Sometimes it's a lost case by then. I don't think we can say who to blame when it happens, I think both parties have their own responsibilities.
Infertility or not finding a spouse when an eternal family is what you want can be so very devastating to a person. Though our attitude makes a huge difference, we're on different levels in our lives and not everyone can have a positive attitude about it. It's their hardship and other's responsibility is to do all they can to help ease the burden - just like thinking the childless can help ease the mother's burden. It's not a one way street.
quote: I don't think mothers ever intentionally set out to alienate non-mothers. I think they are so blamed busy they don't notice those who are outside the experiences they are having.
I also think mothers don't intentionally set out to do it. I also think it can be avoided. No amount of being busy, even if it's about your family which is the most important thing, is reason enough to not notice others around you. It's not an excuse or "get out of jail -card". We mothers still have as much responsibility for other people as everyone else. And what better example can we give to our children than that of caring, service and compassion towards those not in the same "group" as us.
(To put things in perspective, this is from a mother of 4, ages 9,7,6,4 at this moment, one with disabilities, two with allergies, asthma, one with very srong temper and one with pain we haven't been able to diagnose yet)
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