Parents: Those Disapproving Looks Of Judgement 

We have all been in the supermarket, restaurant, shopping centre or simply going about our business walking down the street, when in the background increasing in volume you can hear a child having a trantrum, screaming the place down or a baby crying.

No one knows why, but there will always be a reason.

The moments I loathe are people who walk past muttering under their breath their disapproval and the fact you must be a bad parent. Of course you are not!

Regular readers of my blog will know I have five children and I could just lie now and say they are angels and have never been a problem in public as they save up their trantrums for home just for mum and dad, haha! Who am I kidding?

All five of them have at one time or another made me feel in public that the ground would open up and swallow me, but of course that’s not going to happen. You have to grin and bear it and try to solve their particular issue. Why? Because that’s what we do as parents, it’s part of the deal. So when I see these types of people judging my parenting skills. Please don’t! You have no idea what’s going on.
Do I judge other parents when I see a child having a trantrum or a baby screaming? I probably have I will be honest about that, but it was most likely before I had children, and had no understanding of what being a parent was about.

A baby screaming I have learnt is usually only for a few reasons: tired, hungry or wanting a nappy change. A number of years ago I was on holiday with my eldest when she was about 3 years old. She’s now 21 years. Every night before we would eat she would fight to go in the pushchair and then I would walk around for ages to get her to go to sleep and guess what? She would scream for what seemed like an eternity. The looks I would receive of disapproval made me feel as though I was torturing my daughter. Children tend to get upset when they are tired.

The other day we were at the park and one of the twins wanted a wee and I said no problem we will just go behind the tree. There was a grandmother in the park with her grandchildren and the look of judgement was incredible. What do you want her to do? Wet herself.

I felt like saying great a grip. She needs a wee. A child behind the tree really is not a world changing event although by the look she gave you would have thought it was.

Unfortunately judging parents is a full-time hobby for some people whether you are weaning your baby that’s one month early, or they won’t sit still in the restaurant or run around the supermarket like maniacs.

There are some people that enjoy giving disapproving looks or something that has happened to me which is voice their opinion in a judgemental voice. They really should be ignored they have no right full stop.

Next time we see parents in a total state of anxiety and embarrassment because their child is kicking off take a step backwards and just remember there is most likely a reason.

Please try not to judge them as if they are the worst parents that have ever been because they won’t be, that I’m sure of.

Babies only cry because it’s their way of communicating to mum or dad that there is something wrong. Children, they are all different and so often when they are toddlers it generally means they are tired and really don’t know what to do with themselves.

Some children are lively and so often people judge this as bad behaviour. It’s not in my opinion we should be a little bit more tolerant of children with more energy.

I would never be embarrassed by my children in public whatever happens because it has happened to us all, and that’s the biggest reason I don’t judge other parents.

Have you ever experienced those disapproving looks? Would love to know your thoughts.