It's one of those days, bear with me.
This rant is to those parents who think they are doing the right thing and raising your kid to be independent.
I am all about giving a child independence. They need to learnt to play by themselves, to do chores and to get their own snacks. They need to know these things, they will become a better adult if they do. BUT, you are still their parent. You still need to watch them and correct them. They won't learn from their mistakes if you never tell them they made one. You aren't supposed to be their best friend. You are supposed to teach them right from wrong, not just let them figure it all out themselves. You are supposed to discipline them when they do wrong. You are supposed to be there for them.
And when you take your child to a public event, such as a story time at the library, please, PLEASE, remember that there are other children there. Don't let your kid just run havoc and do what they want. They will ruin it for those children who are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
One more thing, BE AN EXAMPLE! Don't sit there and yell at them for talking when they are not supposed to and then turn around and talk loudly to your friend. It's like the joke where you say "We don't hit!" then smack the child. Remember, monkey say, monkey do. The habits are learned, you aren't born with them.
And, on to the next one.
This one is for the non-parents who think they know it all.
Now, to make it clear, I have no problem with people who don't have kids or are waiting to have kids. None at all! I could care less if you have children or not. But, since you don't have children, don't try to tell people who do how to raise theirs.
It's easy to sit there and say how you will raise your kids before you have them. It's a whole other thing when you actually have them. Everyone is the best mom in the world...until you have kids. You can swear up and down that you will react to a situation with your child a specific way, but when it happens, most likely, it won't be that way. You have no idea what it's like to parent so keep your mouth shut. We know our kids much better than you do. We have been doing this since the second they were born. No one is perfect, we are all learning as we go, whether it's through parenting, a job, or life itself. Quit judging when you have no idea what it's like.
Parenting is fucking hard. Anyone who tells you it isn't either doesn't have kids or isn't doing a very good job at raising their kids. It is a 24 hour job. Yes, job. We don't get paid for it in a traditional sense but the rewards are much, much better in the end. We make mistakes, we yell and scream, we lock ourselves in the bathroom, curl into a ball and cry (maybe that's just me?). But in the end, we love our kids and wouldn't change a damn thing. Those snotty, dirty, annoying little people are the most beautiful and precious things to us. So don't judge us and tell us we are doing something wrong. Try saying something nice to a mother about her children, I guarantee it will make her week.
Plus, we never asked for your damn opinion anyway. Keep it to yourself.
And with that, I leave you with this..
