this is the first time I’ve ever posted!
I don’t know if I have bad luck or bad energy but twice in the last two weeks older women have commented on my parenting?
In the lift at M&S, a woman told my son to stop shouting and behave himself which in itself wasn’t that bad as he was shouting getting into the lift (he’s 2 for context, and obviously I was trying to get him to stop myself), but she then continued ranting at him (she was quite elderly) to the point I asked her to stop so I could speak to him myself.
The more bizarre encounter was today at the petrol station, I had baby in car seat as she was asleep and my son trying to grab all the enticing treats while I got a coffee. I told him we were not having any, that we had treats at home he could have, it then got to the point where he wouldn’t leave the shop, just standing in the doorway asking to get stuff which I kept telling him to put back. Obviously my reactions are delayed as trying to manage baby in car seat, anyway this woman walks past and says “bit selfish, you’ve got yourself a coffee and not even got him a treat”?! Very strange comment, wasn’t really expecting to be judged for not buying my toddler a treat.
I didn’t respond as she went back to her car to watch me and I think she was just trying to be upsetting tbh which is sad for her.
But both encounters have puzzled me for being so close together and also the need other people (women in these scenarios) feel to comment on parenting? It’s really upsetting to be called out publicly while trying to manage toddler behaviour. For context I am not a permissive parent, we have firm rules and I am not afraid to tell my child off when warranted, in the end I had to leave baby in car seat with a kind woman in the queue and carry him back to the car. We had firm words and a chat about how to behave next time.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s had horrible comments thrown at me since being a mum?!