Oh, isn’t it amusing how everyone seems to have an opinion on parenting? From stroller recommendations to which after-school activities your child should be involved in, it never ends. After some time, you learn to let these well-intentioned tips roll right off your back. Here are 13 pieces of advice that every parent can do without.
- You must have a swing/bouncer/Mamaroo/Jumperoo/bassinet. Sure, one of these gizmos might be helpful, but good luck figuring out which one at 4 a.m. while you’re juggling a fussy baby and a soaked swaddle.
- Let them cry it out. We tried this, and sure, it was effective once. But now, my son wakes me up with his enthusiastic nocturnal monologues—last night, he shouted “WHOA, WHOA, WHOA” as if he were directing a military operation. Is there a method for “whoa-ing it out”?
- Limit screen time. Oh yes, I should definitely do that—right after I finish my shower while my toddler hurls blocks at my feet. When faced with a choice between screen time and dodging flying toys, screen time wins every time.
- Teach your kids to play independently. Sure, that’s a great idea until they ask for Scotch tape and end up taping themselves to the kitchen gate while moaning.
- Take turns waking up on weekends. This sounds nice, but when my husband’s day is at 7:30 a.m. and mine is 4:41 a.m., it’s quite the challenge. Plus, I seem to have supersonic hearing that makes me the first to wake at any sniffle.
- Establish a bedtime routine. We tested this and ended up prolonging bedtime by an hour and a half. Now it’s just “tuck in, kiss, and pat on the head.” Wouldn’t it be nice if I had a bedtime routine of my own involving cocktails and ice cream instead?
- Be flexible with their schedules. Oh, I would love to be flexible—let’s see you try to calm a child who’s sobbing because their hamburger is peeking out from the bun. Spoiler alert: shoving it back in doesn’t solve the problem!
- Your son needs to toughen up. Please, if you wouldn’t say it to a girl, don’t say it to a boy. That’s just outdated thinking.
- Your child needs this pricey preschool. What he really needs is some good ol’ dirt time with a yogurt container. A few friends and a caring adult would be ideal, but let’s keep the costs reasonable—after all, this shouldn’t cost more than college tuition!
- Your baby needs a hat. Just try walking behind me, holding that hat on the baby’s head while I navigate the chaos.
- You should stay home with your kids. I get it; staying at home sounds ideal. But the reality is, bills need to be paid, and if I don’t work, I’ll be hearing the judgmental whispers of, “You should feed those kids!”
- You should go back to work. Sure, but have you tried finding affordable and reliable childcare? Touring overcrowded daycares that cost more than my mortgage might change your mind on that suggestion.
- You should… well, anything. Ultimately, everyone is doing the best they can with their unique situations. Yes, we should aim to cook homemade meals and read to our kids daily, but life gets hectic. So, take a deep breath and remember to cut yourself some slack. And when it’s your turn to catch some sleep, don’t forget those earplugs!
In summary, parenting advice often comes from a good place, but much of it can be impractical or downright unnecessary. As parents, we need to navigate our own paths while understanding we’re all doing our best—especially when it comes to learning what works for our families. For those interested in home insemination, you might want to explore this resource for more information on that journey, or check out Make a Mom for a guide on home insemination kits.
Keyphrase: parenting advice to ignore
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