Updated: September 3, 2023
Originally Published: September 3, 2023
Who knew there were so many ways to mess up parenting? I mean, I think my kids are doing quite well. They achieve good grades, have sparkling personalities, treat one another nicely, and show respect to others. Honestly, I’m optimistic about their future as responsible, contributing adults. But then, I open my social media feed and suddenly feel like a complete failure.
How can I not? It’s packed with flawless parenting anecdotes, alarming articles about child-rearing, opinions from every angle—be it social, religious, or medical—from teachers, doctors, and even your grandma. Mix in the sanctimonious parents, the overprotective ones, free-range advocates, and the millennial moms, and it’s like a never-ending buffet of parenting styles and judgments. Everyone seems to have the right way to raise kids, and it’s often more extreme than what I believe. Honestly, if I let every piece of advice sink in, I’d think I was ruining my kids. And if I were a new mom in my twenties? I can’t even imagine how daunting that would be!
So, who’s really nailing it? According to an average week on social media, here’s how you might be “doing it wrong”:
- C-sections: You took the easy way out. What happened to natural births?
- Drug-free hospital births: Are you shaming mothers who needed pain relief? It’s not a contest.
- Medicated births: Really? You couldn’t handle a little pain? Think of the baby!
- Home births: Seriously? Medical advances exist for a reason, you know.
- Breastfeeding: Congratulations, you’re a lactivist! Not everyone can do it, you know.
- Formula feeding: You clearly gave up too soon. It’s not that hard—breasts are made for this!
- Mixed feeding: Couldn’t stick to one method? You should have committed to one approach.
- Co-sleeping: You’re endangering your child’s development. Just put them in the crib!
- Using a crib: How sad! You don’t want your baby close to you all the time?
- Disposable diapers: Toxic chemicals and landfills—what were you thinking?
- Cloth diapers: Scraping poop? Seriously? It’s not the pioneer days anymore!
- Making baby food: Who has time for that? Store-bought organic is just fine, you know.
- Buying jarred baby food: Do you even know what’s in that stuff? Make your own!
- Potty training after age 3: Way too late! They should be trained by 18 months.
- Potty training at 18 months: Really? How do they even tell you they need to go?
- Public school: You’re sending them to the average school? What’s wrong with you?
- Private school: Are you just rich or religious? Your kids might be traumatized.
- Homeschooling: Why would you want to be with your kids all day? They’ll grow up weird!
- Daughters in dresses: It’s 2023! You’re reinforcing stereotypes with those skirts.
- Boys with toy guns: Seriously? They might grow up to be mass murderers!
- Sports for boys: Reinforcing gender roles much? They should learn cooking instead.
- Daughters in arts and crafts: Great, you’re raising a future housewife. How progressive!
- Telling daughters they are pretty: No! That’s damaging! Don’t do that.
- Not saying they’re pretty: Now they’ll seek validation from anyone who does.
- Letting sons cry: Boys should toughen up. Crying is for the weak.
- Telling sons not to cry: That’s why we have emotional men today—let them express!
- Sleepovers: No way! One of those parents could be dangerous.
- Not allowing sleepovers: You’re too paranoid! Kids need those experiences.
- Teen swearing: You’re not being cool; you’re just being rude!
- Not letting teens swear: They need to express themselves! Let them be free!
- Daughter dating at 16: What a disaster waiting to happen! Side hugs only!
- Not allowing dating until 18: That’s way too late! She needs experience!
- Daughter dressing provocatively: She’s asking for trouble. It’s her fault.
- Modestly dressing daughter: You think all men are predators? That’s unfair!
- Working full-time: You leave your kids all day? What are you thinking?
- Staying home: You’re setting a bad example! What do you even do all day?
What I wish is for us to support one another. Even if you disagree with how someone parents, just say, “I might not see it the same way, but I support your choices.” After all, you’re not failing as a parent.
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In summary, parenting is riddled with judgments and unsolicited advice, but it’s crucial to support one another through our diverse experiences.
Keyphrase: Parenting in the Social Media Age
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