6 MOST ANNOYING PEOPLE WHO GIVE UNSOLICITED PARENTING ADVICE

“Oh, you look so tired! Being a mom is tiring huh? You should stop working because money grows on trees!”

“There was this news article that talked about kids and screen time and how it’s basically turned these kids into demons”

Everyone’s got an opinion on how to parent because everyone’s either a parent or has a parent.

Unsolicited advice is one of my biggest pet peeves. Why do I hate it so much? It’s one of my trigger points.

Triggered why?

Because growing up, my dad always told me what to do. Whenever I just wanted to share a story he would try to teach me a lesson, what I should have done, what I did wrong, how I could have been better.

Ground Zero: People who can give me parenting advice. 

My husband: We give each other unsolicited advice all the freaking time. We annoy each other. But at the end of the day, we are a team because we BOTH contribute to how this little human develops.

My Doctor – OK, so they’re not exactly giving me unsolicited advice since I’m seeking it. Maybe that doesn’t count.

Level 1: Strangers

When my daughter was around 4 months old, I was grocery shopping when she started crying.

This random lady comes up to me, put her hand on my shoulder and tells me, “She’s hungry. You should go home and feed her. You’re breastfeeding right?”

This gives me only Level 1 Annoyance because at least I can give them a scowl and GTFO.

Level 2 Annoyance: Family Members

Your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother.

These people give me Level 2 Annoyance because although I can’t avoid them, at least I expect it. And expecting it helps me manage how I deal with it, becoming more desensitized and developing that IDGAF attitude.

Level 3: Someone With Grown Kids
Maybe a co-worker

Like freaking Linda from HR?

That older person who volunteers at some community program because they’ve recently become an empty nester and have all this time on their hands.

It’s like because “they’ve gone through it all,” they want to smack you in the face with their “lessons learned” about how easy/difficult it is now for my generation.

“My daughter never threw a tantrum like that at her age. Parents nowadays don’t know how to discipline their kids.”

“You Millenials have it so easy now. Back in my day, there wasn’t such a thing as Maternity Leave, disposable diapers blah blah blah.”

”How are you guys going to afford anything in this economy. “

“The Internet is going to rot your child’s brain.”

These people give me Level 3 Annoyance because I’ll give them credit for having raised grown children (and didn’t kill them in the process).

But at the same time, they need to stop comparing how they did it with how we’re doing this.

I mean, do they really remember how it was? I don’t even remember what I ate for dinner last night

Level 4 Annoyance: A Fellow Parent

Both your kids are developing at the same time.

“You should start potty training now. I heard so and so started late and then the sun collided with the moon and the world ended!”

This gives me Level 4 Annoyance because it’s like they’re secretly comparing their kid to mine. And you know how I feel about people who like to compare.

Level 5 Annoyance: New Parents

Yes, you have a newborn and yes, you have read Dr. Child Expert Of The Month’s latest and greatest book.
Good for you! Don’t tell me what I coulda, shoulda, woulda done.

Level 6 Annoyance: People without Kids

SERIOUSLY? DEAD

Despite all this annoyance that I have towards these people, I do recognize that unsolicited advice usually comes from a place of good intentions.

They mean no harm.

They may be judging me but as long as I have the confidence in myself to be a good mother, I shouldn’t let their judgments reflect how I view myself.

Ultimately, these words will roll off me like the crumbs that get stuck on my pajama pants after getting up from sitting on my living room floor. (No, I still don’t want the number of your house cleaner)

How do you deal with unsolicited parenting advice?

Let me know in the comments below.