Comments on: Bad Moms Don’t Judge But Some Other People Sure Do

By: Val

Val — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:29:33 +0000

I have to play devil’s advocate here and defend the old ladies just a little bit.
1. When they were growing up, they probably saw babies dying of pneumonia etc. so they might be a little shell-shocked about cold babies.
2. They may have also grown up in a time when it was perfectly reasonable to talk to everyone in the grocery store – because you knew everyone.
3. They are clearly so bossy that they probably are no longer allowed in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives – and are therefore desperate to spew out their “motherly wisdom” on any passerby.
Check out James Lileks’ hilarious book Mother Knows Worst and it will give you a little perspective on the kind of parenting wisdom these old ladies were exposed to.
With all that said, they will go to the special level of hell that is reserved for buttinskis.

By: Megan

Megan — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:45:42 +0000

I just found this site, and I already love it! This topic has been coming up a lot for me recently. I have written about it here ( http://nowyoureintheworld.blogspot.com/2009/09/throwing-stones-at-glass-housesor.html ) and ( http://nowyoureintheworld.blogspot.com/2010/01/so-this-latest-post-has-been-long-time.html ). My favorite was when my daughet was a few weeks old and some old lady (what is with the old ladies?) is yellig at me for bringing the baby out in the cold as she is BLOCKING THE DOORWAY I was trying to go in thorough. If it's so damn cold, how's about you get the hell out of my way lest my baby die of hypothermia, lady?

By: mommas mania

mommas mania — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:43:21 +0000

I love your article. I can totally relate. I took my daughter to the mall last July (it was approx 80 degrees F). It was also the one of the only days that I took her out without socks. In the elevator I was chastized by a little old lady for taking my child out in public without socks. Nothing like having an old lady make a new mom feel like she is a terrible mom. I also put socks on my child and turn my back and she has them off! I have learned that it is a war that few mothers win!!!

By: Lona @ I am THAT mommy

Lona @ I am THAT mommy — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:50:50 +0000

People just like to feel like they are wiser, better, more adept than others. Case in point: About two months after I had my son, we were living in an apartment complex, and I parked directly by the sidewalk, and hallway leading to my first floor apartment. One morning I woke up with a note from my 60-ish neighbor berating me for a) Parking too close with my SUV because it was so big (and it was a small one) b) Needing to park further because I needed the post-baby exercise (Thank you very much for gently pointing out I was fat) and c) Living in an apartment with a child implied that I was too transient to even be a parent. I kept that note in my car until one day my son had an explosive diaper and I needed something to clean it up with. I’m very mature.

By: bejewell

bejewell — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:44:38 +0000

There are few things that piss me off more than busybodies who get all up in my business. Counting myself very, very lucky right now that my kid (currently) likes wearing socks and shoes.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:40:59 +0000

I stopped going to “playdates” when my son was about 6 months old… the new mom’s couldn’t believe that I had stopped breastfeeding at four months… The heat I received was UNBELIEVABLE… “no, you should really try again”… “Oh, that’s such a shame”…. “Did you really give it a try?”… Oy Vay!!! I’d love to call their mothers and ask if they’re proud of their judgmental offspring! Dummies!

By: Mary Helen

Mary Helen — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:35:53 +0000

My husband’s grandmother is the same way about the socks. She would constantly give me “the look” when Emma didn’t have socks on. Then when she had her, she would wrap her up in warm clothes and blankets — indoors — and then wonder why she couldn’t get her to stop crying. Must be colic. But take off a few of those clothes and she’d be so happy. Girl was hot! I don’t know what it is about motherhood that makes some people feel the need to share their unsolicited expertise. Geez.

By: the mombshell

the mombshell — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:17:55 +0000

file this one under ass-munch. these are the same people (sometimes they are of the elderly persuasion) who while my son is throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of Sears and I am calmly ignoring him from the sidelines, come up and offer comfort to him as he is loosing his shit, to which I reply he is fine, he needs to be left alone, I do not negotiate with terrorists. Have a lovely day.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:03:44 +0000

People can be such assholes!

By: Kristin

Kristin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:39:13 +0000

My daughter never took a soother so when she was wee my partner and I often resorted to letting her suck our fingers. Enter random guy on bus telling me this is bad for her teeth and I should get her a soother. Thanks for the advice but she’s the boss around here. This kind of stuff comes from all quarters. My favourite rant about this comes from comic Louis C.K. He does a bit about how once you’re a parent, when you see that mom in the store yelling at her kid you don’t think, “what a bad mother” you think, “what did that kid do to that poor woman!”