If you’ve got a “perfect child” and love to dish out parenting advice, you might want to take a seat. For many parents, their firstborn is often seen as a golden child—calm, polite, and well-behaved, standing out amid the chaos of the playground. This leads many to believe they’ve cracked the parenting code and should definitely have another baby. However, one mom is here to remind us that the first child can be a bit of a trap designed to lure you into having more kids.
Meet Jessica Parker, a mother of three, who recently shared a humorous video on her social media titled #ShoveItSusan. In it, she hilariously calls out all the self-satisfied parents who think that having one well-behaved child means they’re doing everything right.
“I used to believe I was a top-notch parent,” Parker begins. “When I had just one kid, everyone raved about how well-behaved she was. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m really nailing this parenting thing!’” As a fellow mom of a “golden child,” I can relate completely. I hold back from bragging about my child online because, deep down, I know we’re just lucky.
“But then I had another child,” she continues, allowing the camera to capture the unmistakable sounds of her second child throwing a tantrum in the background. “And then it hit me: this isn’t about me. I’m following the same parenting methods, yet one is a dream, while the other is in a full meltdown mode.”
Parker goes on to discuss the stark difference in reactions she receives when sharing stories about her son versus her daughter. She often faces criticism for “lacking discipline,” with other parents claiming their kids “know how to behave.” Because, of course, that’s so helpful, right?
“Once you have more than one kid, you realize they come with different personalities, and it’s not all on you. What works for my five-year-old is met with laughter from my two-year-old,” she explains. She confesses that before her second child, she was one of those judgmental parents—after all, it’s easy to be critical when you’ve only ever experienced the bliss of a compliant child.
Many of the comments she receives center around discipline. “Oh, thank you for the insight, Susan! I hadn’t considered disciplining him,” she mimics in the video with a laugh. “Believe me, I do discipline him, but often it just doesn’t stick. Maybe someone should write an article about that, so parents can finally get some real advice.”
While I may be lucky enough to have a golden child, I can assure you that I’m definitely not a Susan—those parents are the worst! Just because your kids might come from the same genetic pool doesn’t mean they’re all going to be the same model.
If you’re parenting a challenging child, Parker has a comforting message: “Just cut yourself some slack; it’s them, not you.” She humorously quips that the firstborn is simply a clever ruse to encourage you to have more children.
“So, for all the moms out there with a little ‘sour patch’ at home and wondering how it all went sideways—trust me, I understand,” she says. “You have my permission to tell the Susans to ‘shove it’ and invite them over to discipline your kids. They’ll quickly learn it’s not as simple as it seems. Bless their hearts, they just don’t know.”
In conclusion, this delightful video serves as a much-needed reminder that every child is unique, and parenting is not a one-size-fits-all journey. For more insights on topics related to family and parenting, check out this article on at-home insemination kits, or visit this resource for information on pregnancy and IVF. Remember, parenting is a wild ride—embrace the chaos!