5 Things NOT to say to Parents- Mind Your Own Beeswax

Parents you dontThere has been a lot of media buzz surrounding a certain incident regarding a woman that felt the need to tell a Mother to correct her child, who was misbehaving in a store. 

To me, there is never a reason, unless blatant abuse is taking place, to say a darn thing to a Parent about the way their child behaves! Not my child, not my place. Especially if I do not know the family…. even more so if I didn’t have kids. 

There is nothing more irritating to me, than the idea of some young 2o something without kids, trying to tell me how it is that my child should be  behaving. No thank you. I don’t tell you how to live your life, so don’t tell me how to live mine. LOUD MOUTH. 

5 Things Not to Say to Parents- Especially if You don’t KNOW them

1. Your Child is SO loud

Oh, thank you. I have become hard of hearing today and had no idea that my child was being loud enough to wake the dead. In fact, I didn’t realize that he was that loud all the time either! I am totally not just trying to get my shopping done or anything before I have to pick my other children up from school. Yes, he is loud. But he is also happy and not screaming, so the fact that he is repeating my grocery list in a very exciting loud voice, isn’t the worst that could happen.

2. What a CUTE Little Girl! 

Maybe you should have just gone with… “What a cute baby!” He’s wearing all blue with Tonka trucks on his shirt, and I just called him Ralph. 

3. Oh You have your hands full with that one!

You just met her. Like 3 seconds ago. Maybe she missed her nap, maybe she’s cranky, but whatever the reason I am now embarrassed even more. Thank you.

4. He Needs a good Old Fashioned Spanking

Thanks Grandma! Oh wait, you’re not my Grandma? Then shut it. You parent your children the way you see fit, touch mine or imply you may feel the need to spank him and you won’t be happy with the results. In fact, how do you know if we have tried spanking or not? How do you know if we decided it just wasn’t for us? You don’t, because you just met us about 30 seconds ago in the frozen aisle of the grocery store. 

5. Maybe you shouldn’t bring your Child Shopping if she can’t Behave

Oh. My. Gosh. You just opened my eyes to an entirely new concept to us! To save others the painstaking 3 minuets they have to listen to my child misbehave, I should just let the rest of my family starve. What if I don’t have the option to just “Leave my child at home?” Maybe you should just leave that loud, ugly sweater at home because none of us want to see it either.

I think my point in all this is, that if you don’t have kids, or even if you do, If you don’t know the family, just leave them alone! You can make a situation that much worse with just a few words! 

Have you ever received unsolicited advice from a stranger?

 

5 Comments

  1. Jessica on November 10, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    OMG! I totally get these all the time and I would never ever say any of these to other parents! God people have no idea what is going on in your life and should just butt out! Grr this is such a touchy subject for me as I have 4 kids and I constantly get the “You are brave” or “You are my hero”, I don’t get it, I have lots of kids because I do and it’s none of your business and I am neither brave or a hero, I am a mother that loves her kids and the fact that I have a large family. It’s almost like it’s taboo

    • Ninja Mommers on November 12, 2014 at 10:22 am

      I agree Jessica! I am SO over it all!

  2. Sandy on August 13, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    I have 4 kids and I actually do want another. But as soon as people hear me say I have 4, their reaction is always,”that’s enough, now” when I disagree and say I would like another, I’m told I’m crazy and I already have too many! Um, sorry do you pay my bills? Do you watch or raise my kids? Step off!!!! I want as many kids as I say I want! No sweat off your life. It’s my life and they are my children,my family. Thank you. Lol.

  3. Ginni on November 2, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    The only one I have an issue with is the first. Sometimes a kid or kids are really way too loud stores, restaurants, and other indoor public areas and often running around accompanies this. Some people are sensitive to very loud sounds and the running around inside makes me worry that someone’s safety is at risk. It’s not too hard to teach kids about inside vs. outside voices. It really comes down to teaching them respect and self-control, and on a deeper level, a little about modesty. I think celebrities in the U.S. often send a message that it’s cool to be overbearing. I try to teach kids to be just a little shy when you’re in someone else’s home, car, store, etc., because I see some with a bearing as if they’re entitled to be grabby or as if their boisterousness is obviously charming. A good read that discusses this is “Bringing up Bebe.” I see no sense in bad mouthing the mom or kids, but if a parent doesn’t speak up and I’m in a public place I’ve on occasion told kids nicely: “This is too loud. Please use inside voices.” I think most kids who are being educated in a classroom know right away what that means and will pipe down. And often they mind a stranger better than a parent!

    • Ninja Mommers on November 3, 2016 at 12:37 pm

      I agree that kids are seriously lacking in manners sometimes, and someone needs to correct them but it’s not up to someone else to do so. It’s up to the parents.

Leave a Reply