I love the network of people we have built over the past few years and admire and respect those who are parents or like me, have a vast knowledge of child development and thus have a greater understand of developmentally appropriate practice and expectations for young children. I know so many amazing parents and educators and I consider myself quite blessed, especially since I know they will be here to help me and answer my sleep-deprived questions after the baby arrives.
But let's be clear: I also know some really shitty parents.... and some people who have no friggin' clue what the hell they're talking about, they just like the sound of their own voices, you know what I'm sayin'? I will not be taking advice from those folks. I will perhaps nod my head and thank them, because really, it would be grossly inappropriate for me to do much else, but deep in my heart, I know whose examples I wish to follow and whom I would rather never hear a word from about "how to raise this baby."
Unsolicited advice can roll both ways. Sometimes it's unsolicited because we would never in a billion years ask that person for advice because seriously -- wtf do they know about anything and how do they even manage to dress themselves in the morning? Sometimes it's unsolicited because we never thought to ask that person for advice. I have given my share of unsolicited advice and resources over the course of my 30 years, especially as I gain more knowledge and understanding of early childhood education and infant/toddler development.
I'm not an expert on parenting and honestly, I don't think such a thing will ever exist. Each kid is different (ask any mom with more than one child) and each parent experiences the art of parenting in the context of their own situations. I consider myself an almost-expert on child development. We'll never know everything because you can't understand each person's context or soul.
I'm ready to throw everything I know out the window when our daughter arrives, but this is only because I know I have a network of experienced, educated people to support us. We're more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants people anyway.
xoxo
But let's be clear: I also know some really shitty parents.... and some people who have no friggin' clue what the hell they're talking about, they just like the sound of their own voices, you know what I'm sayin'? I will not be taking advice from those folks. I will perhaps nod my head and thank them, because really, it would be grossly inappropriate for me to do much else, but deep in my heart, I know whose examples I wish to follow and whom I would rather never hear a word from about "how to raise this baby."
Unsolicited advice can roll both ways. Sometimes it's unsolicited because we would never in a billion years ask that person for advice because seriously -- wtf do they know about anything and how do they even manage to dress themselves in the morning? Sometimes it's unsolicited because we never thought to ask that person for advice. I have given my share of unsolicited advice and resources over the course of my 30 years, especially as I gain more knowledge and understanding of early childhood education and infant/toddler development.
I'm not an expert on parenting and honestly, I don't think such a thing will ever exist. Each kid is different (ask any mom with more than one child) and each parent experiences the art of parenting in the context of their own situations. I consider myself an almost-expert on child development. We'll never know everything because you can't understand each person's context or soul.
I'm ready to throw everything I know out the window when our daughter arrives, but this is only because I know I have a network of experienced, educated people to support us. We're more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants people anyway.
xoxo
I gave people the opportunity to offer me unsolicited advice at my babyshower so they should get it out of their system. Yeah, that didn't work! So my advice to you is.... ;)
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