So I became a mother quiet young. Not the youngest of mums but young enough to deal with unwanted advice and opinions! At 22 my first child was born and now at 27 I have three and I must say the advice does not stop with older age! (Not that 27 is old) There's always someone eager to questions the where, what, why and when's of every parenting choice you make. My husband and I are nowhere near laid back however understand the challenges of toddlerdom (we have three of em) we indeed pick our battles especially when the entire day went by with yelling, time outs and all the other mentally draining fun stuff that comes with toddlers. Then there's new mums who 'know everything' about discipline, diets and all aspects of children even though their child is not quiet at that stage yet. Not all new mums. But some.
No, I don't think it's ideal for my child to be eating crackers for dinner and yes I'm aware of the sugar content in it and yes I'd love for him to eat those steamed vegetables for dinner but he won't. It's not because 'he never got use to it' he just decided that vegetables were the devil at age 2. He does eat vegetables. I purée them in pasta sauces, soups and many other meals they eat not that I have to explain my daily menu to anybody. They eat the occasional happy meal not because I'm lazy, but because they enjoy it as I did too as a child.
Yep I'm aware that television and iPads are a big no no as told by the 'experts' and you will not hesitate to pull your child away from the TV while mine are peacefully watching too while saying 'don't watch that you're too little'.
My children also love books, drawing, play doh and all the other creative stuff recommended by the professionals. But I did not feel one bit of guilt of
doing those other things prior to my parenting choices being frowned upon by certain people. Anyone else go through something similar?
Parenting Police
Parenting Police
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Food, Behaviour, Baby & Toddler, Baby Feeding, Kids
2 Replies
My son was a handful from birth (I was 20 when I had him). 99% of people shut there mouths, if they had an opinion, I didn't know it, the other 1% were just ridiculous. I just needed to be firmer/more routine/less routine/ change of diet/ relax/ be more up tight/ yojng parents these days/ never say no/ say no/ what ever :)
Usually that advice came from people who didn't have kids.
What's funny is it turns out I was doing a brilliant job, my son was later diagnosed with a number of different neurological conditions and I was such a natural at parenting him I was offered a job by his early intervention provider as someone who advised other parents how to deal with behaviour!
I've now sat back and watched those overly opinionated people bring up there own kids and enjoyed it with some smugness when things didn't follow there plan. I've done the right thing and kept my mouth shut and they have learned to keep there opinions to themselves at least around me :)
Yes! I am feeling this so much, you have pretty much put into words what's in my head. No matter what I do it's wrong. Everyone expects my house to always be spotlessly clean, anything I say someone knows better. I have just learnt to walk away now, like I literally turn my back and walk away from anyone giving me "advice" I don't want to hear.
P.s how awesome are happy meals, I loved them as a kid and my kids love them. It's a special treat and so what if I say yes sometimes.