21 Parenting Myths Busted: What Non-Parents Got Wrong All Along
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Someone recently asked Reddit, “What is something you used to judge parents for before you became a parent yourself?” After several hundreds of parents weighed in, these are the top-voted responses.
1. Tantrums in Public Places
One parent confessed, “Kids throwing tantrums in public places. “Like get your kid under control!” Now I just nod and give the mockingjay sign.”
2. Planning activities around nap times
Another redditor explained, “I used to always roll my eyes when girlfriends told me that the sitter wouldn’t be able to handle bedtimes. Also, I used to think you could just bring your toddler out to a dinner party and put them to sleep in a spare bedroom or couch until it was time to leave. Lmao!”
Another user replied, “Omg the spare room lmao yes same here!! “If they are tired enough they will just sleep” – me in a past life. I was so naive.”
Many Can Agree
“My ex’s sister was super rigid on nap time. It used to drive me crazy. Everything had to grind to a halt at the exact minute it was scheduled, no matter what we were doing, and everyone had to be quiet for 2 hours while the kid napped. It was annoying.”
Another user chimed in, “I’m not that rigid with my son, but I understand. My son hates taking naps 95% of the time, but unless we are busy and it’s unfeasible, I make him take a nap. It’s as much for me as it is for him; I get that now lol.”
3. Delayed Potty Training
“I held onto this one even after my first kid but delayed potty training for kids with typical development. Just try harder, maybe?” one user explained.
Another commenter agreed, “Second kid, been working on it for 6+ months AND he is definitely physically ready, but WHEW what a humbling experience, I am truly sorry for my past transgressions.”
4. Leashes
“Those leashes. I always thought it was bizarre. We still don’t use one, but I completely get it now, especially for anyone who has more than one child or a runner. Sometimes you just need more hands.”
Another user explained her experience, “The funniest thing is that my daughter loved hers. When we actually needed it, the leash gave her a lot more freedom to explore. She wasn’t stuck in a pushchair or attached to our hands the whole time.”
5. Processed Foods
One user judged “Parents who fed their kids pre-packaged processed stuff all the time. It’s basically all he [my child] will eat.”
“Two working parents don’t have time to make a from scratch meal that the kid won’t eat every day, and when he wouldn’t eat at daycare, he would be extremely fussy and difficult for the teachers to manage. Also, he seems to be willing to eat different things at daycare than he does at home. I don’t know how to account for or plan for that.”
6. Loud Crying
“Crying kids in Walmart, and the parent is pretending like it isn’t happening.”
“I’m so sorry to anyone I have judged in the past. I understand now. Sometimes u just gotta finish the goddamn grocery shopping and let ur teething, tired, miserable toddler cry about it. We need food, little homie. You’ll recover when we get home and discover the Bear Paws.”
7. Wardrobe
“Kids wearing pjs out and about.” Another agreed, “Kids being dropped off at daycare in pajamas.”
“I’ve now been cursed with a toddler that screams her face off some mornings when I try to put different clothes on her. Lots of days she gets new pants after a bum change and wears her PJ shirt to daycare because I am short on both time and patience at 7:30 am when we need to leave.”
8. Kids With Dirty Faces
“Parents having stains on their clothes or kids having dirty faces. I had no idea!”
9. Not Getting A Babysitter
“Not getting a babysitter. It’s so damn hard to find someone to watch your kids when you don’t have grandparents nearby, and it’s so expensive (not because I think sitters/nannies charge too much–they deserve it, it’s just hard to afford when you’re lower class).”
10. Screen Time
“Tablets, screen time. Especially going out to dinner. My son is autistic and gets overwhelmed very easily in public so it helps distract him from all the sensory overload.”
Hundreds of other users agreed with one stating, “screen time at restaurants was big. Even after having my LO [little one], I was like why. Enter toddlerhood. Now I either bring the iPad or sacrifice my phone. Enjoying my meal is important, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is important to my kid, lol.”
11. Having A Messy House
One redditor confessed, “Sh*t everywhere in the house. I tidy things up once a day if that. It’s just not worth the energy to do it more often.”
“My husband and I used to say, “oh, we will never let our living room become overrun with toys!” Jokes on us there’s a toy on every surface and corner.”
12. Co-sleeping
One parent said, “I was in some really intense facebook groups about safe sleep during my pregnancy. I thought parents who co-slept were irresponsible and dangerous. Then, I was quickly humbled with a baby who refused to sleep without being close to me.”
13. Picky Eaters
“Hubby and I were determined our kids would eat everything…then we had a toddler who would rather starve than eat anything new,” one user sighed.
14. Baby Gates
Many parents expressed their prior hate for baby gates. One explained, “I have a gate on my toddlers bedroom door. My three year old can open all the locks and doors in our house, even the chains. We live in the busy metro area where she could get hit or taken very quickly just by wandering out the front door. Plus, she likes to let the dog outside/ inside by herself (backyard).”
15. Bribery
With a changed attitude, one parent jokingly commented, “Bribery. It’s the only way.”
16. Crazy Outfits
“I used to judge how some kids wear the craziest things. Like a tutu over jeans and wearing a sparkly belt as a headband, but now as a mom of 2, I find it adorable when my kids proudly pick out their own clothes and dress themselves. Like you go, tiny human, wear whatever you want. As long as you won’t completely freeze and you’re appropriately covered, I don’t care what you picked out.”
17. Talking in Code
“I thought it was weird whenever I’d hear parents spell out or use some sort of code for an activity. Now I get that there are certain “trigger” words that will end up setting the kid(s) off.”
18. Extended Breastfeeding
“Breastfeeding past 4. I still personally wouldn’t do it, but I can see how it could happen.”
Another chimed in, “I’m on the other side. My mom had to breastfeed my brother until 4 due to severe food allergies, but breastfeeding my first born I couldn’t keep up with him past 6 months, and I have no idea how my mom managed.”
19. Dirty Car Seats
One Redditor hated dirty car seats. They explained, “I didn’t understand why they didn’t just not let them have anything in the car to make a mess with.”
“Now we run out the door for early therapy sessions, and she has a pouch in the car. Or drinks in the car. Or whatever magical thing she has snuck with her to make a mess in her car seat. It doesn’t matter how often I watch it. It’s always dirty.”
20. Hiring Help
“Moms (especially stay at home moms) that hire help. I was super judgy of my sister in law who was a stay at home mom with FOUR boys – all two years apart or less – who also had an au pair. I couldn’t understand why she needed an au pair when she didn’t work.”
“Now I have two kids and I can’t understand how she didn’t have more than one au pair. Give me ALLLLL the help.”
21. Bad Behavior on Planes
“Crying kids on a plane. Yeah.”
Another user questioned, “I don’t understand people who fly without headphones. A kid kicking your seat is annoying, but why can you even hear a baby crying 2 rows back. Flights aren’t exactly quiet and serene even if there are no kids.”
The General Consensus
All of the users agree that parenting is a lifelong learning journey that requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to adapt. We hope you enjoyed these perspectives from parents.
We hope you enjoyed this Reddit picks list. This article was inspired by the internet and doesn’t necessarily reflect the views of Motherhood Life Balance.
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