Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
You've GOT To Be Kidding
I have always known that I am sensitive to unsolicited advice from relative strangers, but it hasn't been an issue until becoming a mother. Everyone wants to offer their two cents. I know that the people who offer their advice don't mean anything bad by it, but sometimes I come away feeling like a bad mother because they feel like they have to give me advice about how to parent.
Here is one example (of many)...When Eli was 4 weeks old I went on a walk with him in the jogging stroller. It was a beautiful day, with the temperature in the 70's by the afternoon. I bundled Eli in pants, socks, a onesie, a coat with a hoodie, and a hat. He was also snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug in the bundle me that keeps him warm in his car seat. So here it is almost 9:30 a.m. and I'm almost back from the walk. Then a woman in her car at a stop sign pulls to the side of the road and rolls down the window. She asked me if I wanted a ride. I told her, "No thank you, I'm exercising" (it was obvious that I was exercising). She asked how old Eli was, and I told her 4 weeks. She continued to tell me that he must be cold. I told her that I had bundled him up really well, so he was fine. As I started to keep walking she said out the window, "Put something over his mouth--he's going to be cold." Okay, wow. Never did I ever think I would have a random stranger give me advise like that. I know people have the best of intentions when they give advice, but it honestly feels like a put-down to me.
Well, I'm getting off my soap box now. I promise that my next post won't be another rant...although I can't promise anything about the post after that.
Here is one example (of many)...When Eli was 4 weeks old I went on a walk with him in the jogging stroller. It was a beautiful day, with the temperature in the 70's by the afternoon. I bundled Eli in pants, socks, a onesie, a coat with a hoodie, and a hat. He was also snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug in the bundle me that keeps him warm in his car seat. So here it is almost 9:30 a.m. and I'm almost back from the walk. Then a woman in her car at a stop sign pulls to the side of the road and rolls down the window. She asked me if I wanted a ride. I told her, "No thank you, I'm exercising" (it was obvious that I was exercising). She asked how old Eli was, and I told her 4 weeks. She continued to tell me that he must be cold. I told her that I had bundled him up really well, so he was fine. As I started to keep walking she said out the window, "Put something over his mouth--he's going to be cold." Okay, wow. Never did I ever think I would have a random stranger give me advise like that. I know people have the best of intentions when they give advice, but it honestly feels like a put-down to me.
Well, I'm getting off my soap box now. I promise that my next post won't be another rant...although I can't promise anything about the post after that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
