Different kinds of moms can learn from each other

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning I stand with a group of other moms as we wait for our preschool kids to come tromping down the hill after a hard day of craft making and circle time.

It's always interesting to observe this group of moms who come from all different walks of life. Some moms make small talk, others never say a word, and others sit in their cars talking on their cell phones.

As I've watched this cross-section of motherhood each week I've thought about the different types of moms you can spot in any mommy gathering such as this. Much like Barbie dolls, moms come in all sorts of fascinating varieties. In any group, you usually have:

Workout Mommy: This is the mom that is always in workout clothes and is always just getting back from yoga class or darting off to spinning. It's usually pretty easy to see the results of her training schedule because she is sporting extra tight workout pants.

Competitive Mommy: Oh, your kid is in the 95th percentile for weight? This mom's is in the 96th. You say your child is speaking in whole sentences? Her kid just finished writing his first memoir. No matter what you say around this master of one-upmanship, her kids are doing it better, faster and with the greatest of ease.

Needy Mommy: This mom is always up for a playdate, a lunch or a get-together. In fact, she's too available. She e-mails every week to see if you want to "get the kids together" and makes a beeline for you as soon as she spots you in a crowd. I'll admit I have sometimes filled this role in the mommy gatherings. I'm not ashamed to say I have borderline stalked other moms with whom I wanted to schedule playdates.

Picture-Perfect Mommy: Make-up done by 7 a.m.? Check. Hair teased and coiffed? Check. Color-coordinated jewelry with sweater set? Check. These are the moms that make me exhausted just looking at them. If I get ChapStick on before I drop my daughter at preschool, I think I'm looking pretty saucy. Coordinated outfits and heels are way too much to ask.

Organic Mommy: Don't even get this mom started on the atrocity of pre-packaged baby food. If it's not homemade, recycled or made of herbs, she won't touch the stuff.

Judgmental Mommy: Watch out for this sneaky mommy who can whip your self-esteem out from beneath you in one swift move. Suddenly, things like letting your toddler watch TV or eat candy are valid reasons to call child services. One conversation with this mommy and you'll be wondering how your child will ever survive with a schmuck like you as a parent.

Honest Mommy: These are far and away my favorite of the many different types of moms out there.