Why Do We Shame Parents All the Time?

Parent shaming seems to be the one on everybody’s lips at the moment. It’s strange that all of a sudden it is a hot topic, but truth be told parent shaming has been going on for years. However now we have social media which has a wonderful habit of making parents feel like they are the worst parents in the world. Which of course the vast majority of us are not.

Why do other parents do it? Maybe they want a reaction, but for the life of me I don’t understand what satisfaction you would get out of making another parent feel bad about the way they are raising they children.

As a parent it’s our choice to decide exactly how we want to raise our children, what we give them, if we spoil them or discipline them for that matter in a way we see fit. They are our children so it’s up to us.

Most regular readers of my blog know I have five children. I have always done my best to give them everything they wanted, and if I’m honest there were times that I couldn’t afford it, but I made cuts in spending in other ways to be able to afford it. This usually meant me going without, but surely that’s what being a parent is. You put your children first, at all times.

My wife and I run relatively successful blogs, which means that my children reap the benefits of our hard work, but so often people think that we are spoiling them and I guess we are, but I see a problem of them benefitting from our hard work. If that means having new toys on a regular basis, then why not? We certainly couldn’t afford to buy a lot of them, which is why through our blogs we work very hard for some extra treats for our children. Being shamed for this actually hurts me, because we are working for it.

On the tv the other day there was a discussion about shaming parents, because they paid for somebody to teach their children how to ride a bike or potty training. Where is the problem if that is what parents want to do? Leave them alone! It’s their choice and their money to spend it on what they like. One thing I find amazing is people think nothing of having somebody else teach their children to swim, so what’s the difference between paying someone to teach your child to ride a bike or teaching them to swim? For me there is no difference.

Shaming other parents is one of the most negative things you can do. You are not living in their lives and maybe before you criticise them, think that there are maybe reasons and situations in their lives as to why they are parenting in such a way, or quite simply they can afford to do. Either way it’s their choice, and nobody should be judged or shamed because they have every right to do as they please. It’s their children. Just maybe these people who judge and shame other parents should take a hard long look at themselves. Why cant we just give out positives vibes to other parents, the world would be a much happier place.

What do you think of parent shaming? I would love to hear what you think.