I always struggle when people “parent” my kids in front of me.

There is a very short list of people who are allowed to make parenting suggestions.

These people tend to have young children, they understand that parenting is hard, that sometimes kids make the decision to be little demons, or that acting like a tantrum isn’t happening might be the best way to end it.

These people understand that comments, no matter how well meaning, about your child’s behavior are basically a nice way of letting you know that you’re failing.

I feel like people should hand out neon shirts with the words “FAILING AT LIFE” as they dispense their comments.

Clearly I’m too sensitive about this.

If you’re a mom, you have been in the situation where someone offers “helpful” parenting advice.

These situations are already tense, someone is throwing a fit, you’re in public, someone is bored, it’s near bedtime, or maybe a magical combination of other factors.

The stress is HIGH without the comments. I don’t think the commenter ever knows that they’re making it worse.

These comments make me want to disappear in the floor, and result in more frustration and embarrassment.

Also as an added bonus, in AsthmaMan’s case, they tend to make him scream because he doesn’t like anyone telling him what to do.

These comments make me feel like I am doing a terrible job as a mother and that every one knows it.

You know what, I am doing a terrible job.

Today I told my boys “NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TALK TO ME!!!!!!” And by told, I mean yelled. I spend a lot of  time in survival mode.

I know I am supposed to cherish these days, I know I am supposed to love spending every minute with my kids, I know it is my job to teach them, but to be honest with you, I am drowning just trying to make sure everyone gets enough to eat and doesn’t get seriously injured.

I am teaching them, but I don’t have either the patience or the energy to lecture them until these lessons sink in.

I don’t have the patience or the energy to make sure that their behavior complies the the whims of every adult we come in contact with. I just don’t.

I’m probably lazy, but we are taking it one day at a time. We are looking for teaching moments in every situation, and trying to remember that it is ok if things don’t sink in the first time.

Sometimes these lessons are learned the hard way, sometimes it take lots of tries to get it right, but it never never never makes it better when   someone that doesn’t know the child very well steps in and attempts to do my job for me.

Since it’s summer and we lose our crap basically every time we are in public I anticipate a lot of these “parenting” moments, but I’m going to be patient, smile, nod, and exit the situation as fast as humanly possible… or yell… that seems good too.