There 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?