Raising young individuals and making them better human beings is not an easy task. Every parent has a different approach to parenting; some prefer to be strict while others remain friendly but the ultimate goal of every parent is to raise healthy and happy kids that can contribute positively to society. However, not everyone may be happy with how you raise your children, which may result in criticism and rants. If you’re a parent, you might’ve faced criticism in parties, malls, hotels, etc. It gets unbearable, especially when you are enduring your child’s meltdown and listening to your in-laws' nagging. Most parents wish to know how to deal with these rants. Read on to find the answer to this million-dollar question.
People And Their Rants
People criticize parenting skills by making aggressive remarks such as “the baby is looking so thin, don’t you feed him/her?.” This is an absurd question; obviously, a parent would never want the child to starve! Passing such comments without thinking can be painful for the parents. There can be many reasons, including medical issues, for which the kids’ health is affected. The outlook is usually deceiving, but this will never stop others from commenting on you and your ways.
Cottonbro/Pexels | Don’t let the unwanted advice hurt you
What To Do
Some people are quite nosy. If these comments are from your spouse’s family, then there are chances that things can get heated. If you are in the same boat and have some annoying in-laws, then try the following things:
1. Take It Easy
If you wish to remain on good terms with your in-laws and other people, you should listen to their suggestions with a cool head, smile at them, and tell them that you will talk to your pediatrician about the suggestion. After this, change the topic.
Mart Production/Pexels |Don’t let unwanted advice get you angry and ruin your relationships
2. Raise Your Point Respectfully
If you just can’t resist the temptation to raise your point of view, reply respectfully. You can thank the other person for being considerate and thinking about your child. Then you can share that you wish to figure out parenting independently.
3. Be Optimistic
Be optimistic when you hear criticism because not all criticism is bad. You might see a different perspective on how things can be done - you never know! There’s always room for improvement. Optimism towards criticism can allow you to change in a better way.
4. Ask Your Spouse To Step In
If you cannot stand the unwelcome comments from your in-laws, ask your spouse to speak up about them when his or her family is around. Any defensive remarks from you may seem inappropriate to them. So, let your spouse take care of his or her family.
Alex/Pexels | If you are angry due to some unwelcome criticism it's better to ignore it instead of arguing
If you dislike the uninvited parenting tips, remember the comments that may be made with the best intentions so you can just smile and take the situation easy. Ultimately, you are the parent and the decision of how to raise your kid rests only with you.
