Parenting Advice
It’s funny how judgemental I used to be of other parents… until I had kids. It’s amazing how much parenting advice I thought I had… until I actually became a parent.
However, I still find it easy at times to dish out a little criticism to “other” parents. I’m learning how pointless and destructive this can be. God’s given me enough to worry about with my own three little guys.
Here’s an interesting interview with Dr. Ruth Peters entitled “What I Hate About Other People’s Kids”. Read it HERE. I don’t agree with everything in the article, but she does make some interesting points!
14 Comments:
Oh funny!
I regretfully must admit I was a critic of parents before I had kids. “Why is that TWO YEAR OLD having a fit? You need to discipline your child”. Riiighhtt…. Now that’s usually me that everyone is looking at and I’m saying “Sorry she’s two” as I try to appropriatley figure out a way to “discipline in public”. Yikes. So…sorry to all those parents I misjudged. The frustrating thing is I know people misjudge my wonderful girls for undisciplined.
Although…I did have to “deal” with a situation at the playground the other day. One bossy kid was telling all the other kids where to play, not to go down the slides and his mother was on the phone not paying attention so I quickly said, “You can’t tell them where to play. Kids , go ahead down the slide”. I don’t think that was out of line.
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danielle
1:07 pm
Yeah, I’ve found that the the things that used to irritate me about other people’s kids just aren’t as big of a deal as I thought they were when I had mine! It’s funny how your standards of “bad behavior” drop the longer you’ve been a parent!
Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com
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bradruggles
1:30 pm
“What I Hate About Other People’s Kids”
Dang it, that was going to be the title of one of my posts!!! Well I’ll jump over and see why she hates others kids.
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Brian Alexander
1:42 pm
Man! There’s some conviction. I used to think the same thing as a teacher. Now as a parent, I see that you are dealing with that dang “free will” that gets in the way of OUR behavior, too.
I agree with most everything that Dr. Peters says though. It is a constant struggle for us to find the balance of teaching our children the behavior patterns they will need built in as adults, and letting them be children, too.
There are few things as humbling as parenthood!
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Chris Alexander
2:06 pm
Guilty as well.
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ncarnes
2:19 pm
Never been a critic of parenting. The only advice I hope parents give their kids is not eating the yellow snow.
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Giant Idiot
2:58 pm
One more thing. I wish parents knew how old their kids are and updated their ages in the about me section of the blog.
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Giant Idiot
3:00 pm
We are so on the same page with our thought patterns that it is starting to freak me the heck out. I am getting ready to post on my site about someone else’s kid as soon as my perfect two are down for their naps. Came here to see the low-down on your site and wouldn’t you know it?? Pete, man, get out of my brain.
Heidi Reed
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candidchatter
5:26 pm
I’ll admit I was as opinionated as all get out before I had kids and I’ll have to say I’m still opinionated as all get out now, but just in different ways.
The parents that are too lazy to discipline their children chap my hide. It baffles me. When I see them get lippy to their parents, or hit them or other children and the mom says, now Tommy, don’t. Or mom doesn’t even pay attention. grrrrrrrr!
I realize nothing is black and white however because I’ve heard people say, well my child would never act that way, well you’ve just never had a “spirited” child then. I have 3 mellow kids and one I just know I’ll have to have enrolled in sports year round to keep him busy and out of trouble.
Again, I’m still opinionated, it’s just from a different point of view now.
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pajama momma
5:31 pm
Great Topic….I try NOT to do this anymore. If we are out I’m mainly paranoid at what my two will do. One is in to throwing things..(21 months) and the other has a way of searching out trouble and joining in…or creating some on his own. NEVER EVER give parenting advice if you are NOT a parent!!!!!! You just have NO idea….I’ve not done it myself but I have had it done to me.
I know I have alot of neighbor kids over at times and many have no good parental figure. I set the rules out when they step in my yard. They think I’m tough but they LOVE coming over. I love on them and make them mind but, they want to come over. Setting the rules down when others are at your house is A-ok with me.
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Jen
7:40 pm
a part of me is worried about actually becoming a parent because i fear having to swallow so many of past my criticisms of other parents.
eek.
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alece
10:06 pm
I admit, my hatred of other people’s kids started when I learned I couldn’t have my own. It’s one of my biggest struggles, but the majority of the time, I try to remember how I’ve been with the various kids in my life, and I had the knowledge that I could give them back at some point.
I do still judge, but when the knee jerk reaction hits, I try to beat it down by asking for patience, for both me and the parents.
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kate
11:35 pm
Good topic. It made me think of another funny parenting blog. Now, this is tongue and cheek, and a little offensive, (so don’t read it if you don’t have a sense of humor). This particular post was about “giving unwanted parenting advice.”
http://bestparentever.com/2008/04/07/21-giving-unwanted-advice/
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Cooper
10:15 pm
Good topic. It made me think of another funny parenting blog. Now, this is tongue and cheek, and a little offensive, (so don’t read it if you don’t have a sense of humor). This particular post was about “giving unwanted parenting advice.”
http://bestparentever.com/2008/04/07/21-giving-unwanted-advice/
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Cooper
10:17 pm
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