Something unique transpires when you step into the role of a parent.
It’s akin to a sudden switch being flipped the moment you fully grasp your parental responsibilities. While some individuals have always envisioned their future parenting style, complete with specific techniques like implementing time-outs, others have had to adapt on the fly, learning as they go—a perfectly acceptable approach.
At the heart of it all lies the understanding that each family’s approach to parenting will inherently differ.
This raises a recurring question: should individuals without children be entitled to offer unsolicited parenting advice?
Stacey and J Sbu are prompting discussions in KZN about whether this practice should be endorsed or discouraged, and the diverse range of opinions on this topic is bound to be intriguing.
In 2016, the hosts of ‘The Real Talk Show’ delved into this very question, facilitating a discussion among both parents and non-parents. The conversation was insightful and well-received. You can view the video below for further insights, courtesy of YouTube.
As a general rule, it is widely accepted that individuals without children should refrain from offering parenting advice. However, it appears that some individuals lack tact and fail to gauge the appropriateness of their advice. Many parent bloggers have expressed frustration online, noting that non-parents often oversimplify the complexities of parenting.
For instance, a dad blogger on ScaryMommy.com shared his exasperation at receiving unsolicited advice from non-parents and humorously envisioned a candid response:
*Please be advised, the following excerpt contains strong language.
Non-parent: “Don’t let them eat in the car. Then it will not be a mess. Problem solved.”
Dad: “Listen, dipshit. Have you ever driven more than 20 minutes with a crying hungry toddler? Imagine yourself in a mobile sweaty hell with little screeching demons whining for graham crackers and constantly touching each other and bitching about it. Now imagine doing that everyday for a few years, and you know what, you will do anything to keep the peace so you don’t drive your minivan into oncoming traffic. Sometimes it feels like the backseat of my car is a prison yard and I’m doing what I can to keep inmates from revolting, and if that means handing out fruit snacks that will most likely be wedged into the seats, so be it.”
Contrary to popular belief, working mom Megan Peterson shared a perspective on Huffpost advocating for the validity of non-parents’ viewpoints, acknowledging that she values parenting advice from her childless friends.
“Maybe non-parents can’t relate to the everyday chaos and brain drain that is parenting, but they _do_ have a legitimate point of view from their own experience. Parenting qualifications are as much about how much life you’ve lived (which may not correlate with age) as they are about child status.” (Huffpost)
It is evident that there are varying opinions on this matter, each with its own merits. Feel free to share your thoughts below.