“Bad” Parenting

You know, it drives me nuts when people call other people “bad parents”, just because their parenting style differs from their own. Sometimes, in the smallest, simplest ways. You let your child have a tantrum in a store instead of bringing them outside? BAD PARENT! You didn’t exclusively breastfeed your baby? BAD PARENT! You do/don’t spank your child when they act out? BAD PARENT! You take your child out to eat instead of cooking for them every day? BAD PARENT! You bought your child a ton of presents/very few presents for their birthday? BAD PARENT! No. No no no. And, once again, NO! I could go on and on, but you get the idea, and I’m sure many of you have been there.

I am not naive, I know that you can’t please everyone, and people will always disagree with something you’re doing, but I’m starting to think people have no idea what the word “bad” even means. A BAD parent neglects their child. A BAD parent does not feed their child. A BAD parent does not care about the welfare of their child. A BAD parent purposely harms their child (and, no, I’m not talking about spanking). Just because you disagree with a GOOD parent’s parenting style, does not make them a BAD parent. It does, however, make you a judgmental twit, with your head shoved up your own ass. Get over yourself, because at the end of the day, we’re all just trying our best here.

You want to see bad parenting? Head on over to Yahoo!‘s homepage and read through the dozens of horror stories on there. Abuse. Neglect. Murder. Get some damn perspective, and stop judging GOOD parents, just because you disagree with them.

I’m done.

Jan