It's ironic

[smartestnumber5]

I noticed a couple of threads in the last few days which involved debates about parenting so of course they got very heated when a small minority of people had different opinions about the subject than the majority.

Something that came up on both of the threads was that when someone disagreed with the majority, everyone wanted to know that person's parenting status and if the person didn't have children, they were told essentially, "You don't know if you don't have kids." Strangely, though, when people who didn't have children agreed with the majority, no one said "Hey, what do you know? You don't have kids."

Funny how that works out

 

[shirleyb]

Well, I am one of those who was a great parent before I had kids!

I used to look at my nephews and think what are my brothers and sisters-in-law doing wrong! Believe me, I realized once I had kids, it's not as easy as it looks. So, I think that's where some of the skepticism comes in.

Frankly, unless someone states it, I don't know if they have kids or not. I'm certainly not able to keep track of the parental status of DIS posters.

 

[Mermaid02]

I don't take marriage advice from someone who's never been married either.

I'm not taking medical advice from someone who isn't a healthcare practitioner.

Opinions are fine from ANYONE but when someone comes right out and ridicules the way you are raising your kids and then you find out THEY don't have any- well it's just laughable. I was very critical of my bil and his wife when their son was small- how could they let him act out like that?? I NEVER would stand for it! Guess what? I ended up having a son with some problems (ADHD among others) and there's plenty of acting up at my house.

 

[jonestavern]

Before I was a mom, for many years, I worked with between 50 - 60 women, most were mothers.
I listened when they talked about the kiddos.
We all sat around the lounge at break time or lunches, & of course, children came up all the time. Lots of good advice & some both from those with & those w/o kids~
My Mom was not big on kids, so I consider this exchange the most valuable experience in determining how to bring up DS. Lots of wisdom
I sat extensively for my nieces-- was the sole care of them for as much as 2 weeks straight, took childbirth classes, was there for the births, went on pre-natal & pedie app'ts, took them to nursery school & dance lessons etc. This is not to say DSis was/is needy, we have no close female relatives & DBIL, though a sweet guy, was just not that involved. DSis asked me to help her & I gladly did.
I did not have children then.
It worked out fine. My DSis & I have never disagreed over child issues yet & the 'children' are in their teens & 20's.

Advice is what it is. Some folks don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows~
Others can't figure it out if they have a weather channel advisory.
I agree, as with any experience, experience is the best teacher for many, but certainly not all
Always some folks think they 'know it all' & have the 'last' word, whether experienced or not~

Jean

 

[sweet angel]

I think some folks just like to disagree for the sake of disagreeing, not saying that's what happened in the threads in question, but some people simply like to play devil's advocate.