So, my DSis (childless) says to me one day that i appear not to be coping very well (i'd just hauled DD back from puddle jumping in her brand new and expensive shoes and was a bit more aggresive about the pull that i meant to be- but hey with no prompting from DSis i said sorry to DD, gave a her a cuddle and we laughed about it).
At various other times, "helpful" comments from childless people have struck me as worthy of riducle here on MN.
Most of mine are inspired by my DSis (who is lovely but i think increasingly clueless!)
- Children are not always right, if they grow up thinking they are always right, they will grow up quite wrong.
- Yes your house is much cleaner than mine but yours doesn't have children, scruffy if loveable dogs, scruffy and possibly still loveable DP with both of you working full time. A bit of muck does not a child killand you only work part time anyway!
- Yes, i know a bit of chocolate here and there is fine but giving her a 200g block and telling her she can eat it now (just before bed) does not give you the right to complain about mixed messages when i step in and say NOT BLOODY LIKELY!
- Being a bit ratty after having not slept, juggled the job, the chores, the child might be a sign i am not coping very well but NOT MEETING YOU FOR COFFEE TO BE TOLD I AM NOT COPING AND A LECTURE ON WHAT TO DO BETTER is one way to reduce the list of things to do.
- I am the mum, my word is law. DP is the dad, his word is law when i agree with him. You are the aunt, your word can be taken under advisement unless there is a temporary agreement in place that you have sole charge of all activities for given period of time as dictated by the law of mum's word.