re: OT parents: children birthday party etiquette

quote:

---

I don't know. My cool friends talk to me about their kids all the time. I don't try to act like I really know what I'm talking about when I'm offering advice but mostly I just listen. There are some people who act all high and mighty about it and even before I've even said anything, they tell me that I just don't understand. Are you that person? They suck. I don't like them. I never once said that I understand. I never said anything, shite. Those are usually the same people that complain a lot.

---

Exactly. Look at parents all over the internet. There are actual internet wars over different types of parenting. So really, it's not a parent vs. non-parent thing.. it's an individual vs. the world type of thing.

Parenting is a sort of self-examination. Everyone thinks their way is the right way as far as I can tell. So really, no one's advice is going to matter to the parent.

All parents can do is say they way they'd do something. All non-parents can do is say the way they THINK they'd do something. Either way, parent-in-distress is doing what they want.

Often times, someone offering advice is just trying to be nice. If I don't want someone's advice on something, I just don't take it. I don't need to qualify it with condescending statements. Reminds me a lot of people who compare suffering. (Your boyfriend broke up with you? Well my fiance broke up with me, which is worse)