It's only natural for people to offer advice on parenting because once you've done it and your child's turned out fine, you can't help feeling like something of an expert. But sometimes advice other parents give can contradict your own thoughts and feelings, as well as being quite irritating. Here are some tips that helped me deal with unwanted parenting advice.
1. Don't take it personally
It may seem like a personal attack on your own parenting skills, but look at it this way; everyone does things their own way and parenting isn't any different. This is their experience for their family and for their life. You have every right to either accept or reject it.
2. Trust your gut
You know what's best for your children - you know them better than anyone. There have been times where I have received parenting advice and have just known in my heart that it wouldn't work for me. Not to say that what they were saying was wrong, it was just wrong for me.
3. Have a response ready
I have noticed that the older generation tend to be more fourthright with their views and opinions on raising children, often bordering on rude, so having a response ready will help you get through the conversation without blurting out what an inconsiderate person you think they are. Most of the time they really do mean well and are genuinely trying to help, but this is not to say that sometimes their advice can be irritating, upsetting and sometimes even offensive. Always be polite, and have a stock response, a smile and a nod at the ready.
4. Be strong
Stay true to what you believe to be right for your child. I'm pretty sure that outsiders can smell weakness when it comes to parenting and will pounce the moment they get an opportunity, so do your best not to give them one. Whatever your parenting style, be proud of it. You are shaping your child in the way that you think is best, not in the way that the lady at the bus stop thinks is best.
5. Listen
For every five times that you'll get some bad advice, they'll be one time that you may get some good advice, so listen out for that.
Before I had my first child, I did a lot of reading. I wanted to know all the in's and out's of become a parent; or at least as much as a book could tell me. I had my routine, my thoughts and feelings about the food they should eat, nap times, how I would settle them etc. all ready, and implemented them the best I could when I had my little boy. Well, things didn't exactly go to plan, and the best piece of advice that I got was to try a dummy. It worked wonders and probably prevented me form being committed!
What unwanted parenting advice have you received?
