Times People Felt The Need To Judge A Mother’s Parenting Decision
No matter how well-behaved your child is, parenting is a tough job. From pregnancy to parenting newborns, onto the terrible twos, and into the teenage years, you're going to have a lot on your plate as a parent.
What mothers don't need to be dealing with in the midst of trying to raise a functioning human being is getting judged by other parents. Even if you're coming from a well-intentioned place, offer your support instead of your judgments and acknowledge that everyone is trying their best.
So Now We're Anti-Cleaning
You forced your husband to spend his Saturday morning frantically dusting the ceiling because you wanted it to look nice for your parents who were coming to visit, but somehow that's a bad thing? Good to know.
We're Going To Guess She Didn't Breastfeed You
"My mother had a real problem with me breastfeeding my children. She would say, 'EWWW!!' if she witnessed me doing the 'dirty deed' as in keeping my babies alive with sustenance. She would wretch/dry heave if she had to be in the same room with me if I was feeding my children" —Lisa Frangipani, Quora.
That's going to make for some awkward family dinners, isn't it?
Aim For Supervised Adventure
"Letting my kids explore, climb, flip, trust themselves. Helicopter parents are insane and super judgey." —Reddit. You want to protect your child from the world around them, but it's good to let them explore and learn for themselves!
You Can't Choose Your In-Laws
This might be more of an issue related to you and your mother-in-law, rather than her actually being concerned about the way you're raising your children. Just smile, nod, and watch your daughter be happy.
That's Not How This Works
I hate to break it to you, but that is not how this whole motherhood thing works. You grew another human being inside of your body, you created literal life, you're a real mother. That's all there is to it.
Can You Spoil A One-Week-Old Baby?
As the mother of a newborn, basically anything goes. If you want to hold your baby in the grocery store, you hold that baby. Your baby isn't going to grow up to be a failure because you held it for half an hour that one time in a store when he was a week old.
We've Got Ourselves A Runner
This is a tough one because if you see a child on a leash, you would naturally wonder what's happening, but rather than judging, take your time to consider what's actually going on.
Share Tissues, Not Opinions
What kid hasn't had a runny nose at some point in their life? Kids are messy, they get sick a lot, and there's no way that you can prevent that. Come prepared with your tissues and some hand sanitizer instead of your judgments.
Oh, So You're Trying To Start A War In The House?
Judging parents extends far beyond the toddler years. There are always going to be people who disagree with your decision-making, but if it's your partner that's disagreeing, that's not really something you can ignore.
Always Have Spare Clothes On Hand
If you have a baby that has a tendency to ruin every outfit within minutes of you putting it on them, you're going to want to make your life as easy as possible. They can live in onesies until they're 10 for all we care.
Is This Not A Common Thing?
Since when is choosing not to find out the sex of your baby something that you can be judged for? If you want it to be a surprise, be surprised!
Splash Pad Problems
Did we miss part of the story somewhere? How could someone think it's justifiable to shame another parent for wearing a bathing suit...at a splash pad? That's the entire point of a bathing suit.
The Plight Of The Working Mother
When it comes to the life of a working mother, it's going to feel like you can't win no matter what you choose to do. If you stay home, you're sacrificing your career, but if you go back "too soon," then you don't love your children enough.
Now You're Being Silly
There are a lot worse things that you could call a 4-week-old baby other than "silly," and let's face it, newborn babies are silly. Letting a newborn baby dictate your life by controlling you with their crying is absolutely the silliest thing we do as parents. What were we thinking?
They Thought You Weren't Making Smart Decisions
The only thing that's going to crumble in this situation is this argument. If you've taken the proper safety precautions in terms of car seat placement and strapping your kid in properly, they can ride in whatever vehicle you want.
Not The Same Situation
Every woman's pregnancy is different, and everyone is going to make decisions that are different than another mother's. You do you, and let other people get themselves in a tizzy over your decisions.
We'll Save The Broccoli For Someone Who Wants It
Sure, you can pack your 5-year-old a boiled egg to take to lunch for school, but you're probably going to end up with a seriously unhappy camper on your hands.
We're Feeling Deflated After This One
"I invited a group from his playgroup over to my house one afternoon to celebrate his first birthday. I got some balloons because babies love balloons. It was going well until someone said quietly 'oh, we don't do balloons. Not until they’re much older.'" —pinkandperjurous / Reddit.
If you're worried about your kids, don't let them touch the balloons! Problem solved.
Everyone Is Just Thinking About Safety
Every parent is concerned about their kids' safety, but you also want your kid to learn to be independent, and there's nothing wrong with that! If you feel comfortable watching them as they walk without leading them, that's your choice.
No Bare Toes Allowed
"For not having my then 4 month old bundled up and wearing shoes and socks in 85F weather. He lived. Turns 21 tomorrow." —liann22 / Reddit.
Who doesn't want to look at cute little baby toes anyways? Let the toes breathe.
You Get To Choose How Many Children You Have
It's probably not a sentence you ever thought you'd hear, but "children are like buffets" makes a surprising amount of sense in this situation. Don't take more just because you feel like you should. You know when you're done.
Sun Protection Shaming
Every parent knows the importance of putting sunscreen on their children, it's drilled into all of us. The only person getting burned that day is the person who felt the need to make this quick judgment.
"Children Don't Belong In Church"
"I was shamed for going to church with my daughter (4) and my son when he was six months old. No disruption, but a lady crossed from her pew to hiss at me to 'get those kids home. They don't belong here!'" —MermaidWish / Reddit.
If they're not causing a disruption, why wouldn't you want them to stay?
Celebrity Moms Get Shamed Too
Jessica Simpson was shamed by Instagram commenters for endangering her daughter after they deemed she had incorrectly strapped her daughter into her car seat—except she wasn't even in a car seat, she was in a stroller.
Sometimes It's Well-Intentioned
When Pink posted this picture to her Instagram, she received comments from fans who were concerned about her carrying her baby in a 'dangerous' situation because he was close to the heat.
How Often Are They Pictured Eating Meat Anyways?
Chrissy Teigen is no newbie to mom-shaming and has said before that when she posts a picture of her children eating meat, she gets backlash from the vegan and vegetarian communities for forcing her meat-eating ways on her children.
You Can Barely Even See It In The Picture
Sometimes, it feels like commenters are looking for something wrong with a celebrity's picture, and in this case, they focused on Kourtney Kardashian allowing her daughter Penelope to wear a fake lip ring.
Let Them Enjoy Their Luscious Locks
Megan Fox thought she was safe to share this photo of her two sons enjoying a day at the beach, but unfortunately, it turned into a debate about how she should force them to get a haircut.
There's Not Even A Child In This Photo
Sharing a glimpse into her life as a Saturday morning soccer mom, Carrie Underwood was shamed for wearing makeup... That's it. That's the whole story. Let a mom feel pretty and put on some makeup if she has the time before a soccer game!
You Hate Us Cause You Ain't Us
What mother hasn't been guilty of having a glass of wine while also still managing to keep their child happy, healthy, and alive? As long as everyone is focusing on their children and doing the best we can, this next generation is going to turn out just fine.
Shamed If You Do, Shamed If You Don't
Why would anyone choose to spend their money on something when their body literally produces it for free? You must be terrible at money management if that's how you see this.
Someone Took Normal Brain Function Away From Her Too
Ah yes, because every mother dreams of delivering their baby 3 months before their due date, and if it happens, it must've been an intentional choice on the mother's part.
The TV Is A Parent's Friend
TV is the only way that you're going to get all your kids to sit still in one place while you try to make dinner for them, so yes, you let them watch TV.
They're The Terrible Twos For A Reason
Clearly, whoever said this has never had to put a two-year-old to sleep because any parent who has ever had a toddler knows that they are not the ones in charge at bedtime.
Is There An Option Besides Adoption?
It seems like maybe this mom wasn't the only tired one in the house that day, because there's no way that grandpa thinks adoption is the only rational solution to being a tired parent... right?
Double The Children, Double The Opinions
"Soooo many things to do with the sheer existence of the twins. Having a c-section. Not dressing them the same (it's soooo cute), dressing them in too similar clothes (they're individuals you know). Using a side by side buggy, not using an inline buggy, not carrying them, still using a buggy at 3, having trouble breastfeeding, using formula, etc etc etc."
Since When Is Sleep A Bad Thing?
It's like parents want to compete with each other over who is the most tired out of the group, or whose kid is the worst sleeper. Luckily for that person, this mom was well-rested and could deal with these comments rationally.
Let Sleeping Babies Lie, Literally
"Talking on my phone while pushing my SLEEPING baby in a stroller. Apparently I should have all my attention on him even though he's asleep and I needed to call my husband for a few minutes." - Reddit.
Having Someone Else Raise Them Would Be A Dream
Going back to work after your child is born doesn't mean that you're just passing your baby off to be raised by someone else. They're not going to turn out badly because you sent them to daycare.
Go Shame Someone Else's Kid On Their Birthday
If the teacher had called them in to say it wasn't a nutritional option, that would've been one thing, but this seems like overkill. You really took the "happy" part right out of that kid's special meal.
