Recently, I shared a photo of my three-year-old daughter in a teary moment on my blog’s Facebook page. I was simply expressing my frustration. After serving her three differently sliced bananas, she asked me to reassemble them and eventually turned down each one. It was just a typical toddler episode, but you get the gist. The entire post was under 100 words.
Before long, the comments section erupted, with users claiming this is why kids today are spoiled. I was told I needed to assert my authority and stop allowing my toddler to dictate terms, as if battling a three-year-old is the first step toward parental failure. Some even attempted to psychoanalyze my situation, launching into discussions about control dynamics from a few hasty sentences and a blurry photo of my upset daughter in her Sunday best.
What began as a lighthearted post spiraled into hundreds of comments, with most being critical of my parenting. One individual even suggested I shouldn’t have children, hurling insults like “wimp” and “coward” before sparking an argument with other parents, which forced me to ban her from my page.
If you don’t find this reaction a bit absurd (no pun intended), you might be part of the ongoing issue.
Having written online for several years, I’ve faced countless criticisms regarding my parenting choices—everything from princess costumes and video games to the occasional cookie reward at the grocery store. It’s a sad reality that any parent engaged in social media has likely encountered similar judgment over trivial matters. I can feel the collective nodding of heads as you read this.
While parenting is a serious responsibility, moments like “Banana Gate 2023” call for us to take a step back and breathe. Here’s the reality: very few adults can trace their authority issues back to how their parents handled banana slices when they were toddlers. No one has ever been denied entry to a prestigious university and reflected on their childhood, thinking it was due to their parents being too lenient at snack time. And no one has faced a judge and cited their fondness for grocery cart rides as a reason for their criminal behavior.
Some aspects of parenting do warrant scrutiny. For instance, last year, parents from a popular YouTube channel faced legal action for neglect after posting videos that showcased verbal abuse towards their children for views. Those actions deserved backlash. But a simple post about bananas? That’s a different story. The truth is, three-year-olds can be quite challenging.
Parents need to choose their battles wisely; they can’t fight every minor issue. If a fellow parent—whether a blogger, friend, or family member—shares their struggle with a toddler refusing to eat bananas or something equally trivial, let’s lower the stress levels and recognize that they aren’t seeking advice. They’re looking for someone to share a laugh with about the universal challenges of parenting. It’s really that simple.
Let’s foster a supportive community. Instead of nitpicking the little things, let’s share more laughs and offer support. After all, we should be building each other up rather than creating mountains out of mere slices of bananas.
For those interested in more parenting resources, check out this informative piece on in vitro fertilization or explore our guide on at-home insemination kits. And if you want to dive deeper into parenting discussions, visit Modern Family Blog.