Today I even put on clothes other than sweatpants, even though I wasn't leaving the house. Amazing, eh? My husband swears he was about ready to burn my sweatpants, so coming home to find me in a skirt and nice t-shirt (not something oversized or borrowed from him) was a nice surprise.
Gavin is pretty self-sufficient and he loves to help out with the baby. However, school comes first!
Of course, I'm trying to accomplish all I can every day. However, some afternoons are best spent letting Rowan nap on my chest while I watch a movie or read a book. Yesterday was perfect for that. I spent the morning doing "the usual" and the early afternoon with friends. By the time I got home, I needed a break.
Also, there was the matter of Annoying Advice Givers. Encountering them left me pretty drained yesterday.
I hate it when people try to tell parents how to rear their child. Unless that child is in some sort of danger from their parents, I think other people should back off and butt out of a situation. The same goes for the internet - blogs, forums, Facebook, etc. Unless a person poses a question, there's no need to offer advice.
I ranted to my sister about this, and she posted her own Facebook rant about how rude people are to parents.
It's true. People are really rude to parents. They think they can tell you how to care for children, how to discipline them, how to educate them, and so forth.
If I see someone with a crying baby, I'm not going to tell them how to deal with the situation. I'm going to think, "Been there, done that, and I know how it feels", maybe give them the sympathy smile, and move along.
Now, I know some people have that "It takes a village to raise a child" mentality. I don't. I have a "My child, my way" mentality. If I want help, advice, or ideas, I'll ask.
So, to the Annoying Advice Givers, I will let my daughter speak on my behalf:
Copyright (c) 2013 Wendy L. Callahan
We are a very judgemental society, aren't we? With the things we're dealing with regarding Bay, we get a lot of judgement. And a lot of unwanted advice. I hate unsolicited advice. Sometimes, I want advice. But when I do, I will ask my personally selected panel of advice-givers.
ReplyDeleteWe are all soooo judgey!
DeleteMy gosh, what's going on with Bay - that's a difficult enough situation without other people butting in. Like you said, when you want advice, you'll ask the people from whom you want to receive it.
Precisely how I feel!
I want to know who gave you advice and what advice they gave you. I'm funny like that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have advice.
Learn how to lower your voice to a whisper, look VERY shocked, and say, "you can see me????" to the next person who approaches you like that.
It was the ladies at the commissary, trying to figure out what was wrong with Rowan. Rowan was cranky all day long, no matter what I did. All these ladies did was make *me* cranky.
DeleteI've been considering that very idea, Mental... ;)
PS I was watching AFN last night and the weather report came on. Saw Mildenhall and thought of you. :)
ReplyDeleteAhhh, Mildenhall. Cloudy with a chance of clouds. :D
DeleteShe made me smile! So sweet! I am the same way. When I see parents struggling or a kid crying I feel for the parents and understand what they are going through. I would never, in a million years, tell someone how to raise their kid. But I get plenty of advice. My mom can be the worst. I like Rowan's attitude towards it all!
ReplyDeleteHeh. Thanks, Lisa! Yeah, I prefer the "Yo, I know what you're going through, sister!" response/look, to the advice-giving.
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