Everyone has an opinion

Since learning that I was going to be a mom almost three years ago, I've learned quickly that everyone has an opinion. It started quietly with suggestions for names, various baby products, and the debate over whether or not to have an epidural. To be honest, 99% of those opinions and recommendations were helpful, and they always came from a place of genuine concern and care.

While the intention likely hasn't changed, the opinions have changed from suggestions about the best products to use for my baby to how I should raise my child. Granted, I'm sure every mom goes through this. Mothers, mothers-in-law, family, friends, and even the woman behind you in line at the grocery store seem to have an opinion about what you do with your child. Now that I have a two year old those opinions seem to be far more vocal. Yes, I have that kid who screamed through the mall the other day, with people disapprovingly staring as I tried to get to my car as quickly as possible. I even had one little old lady yell, "Be quiet!" at Dylan as we neared the finish line and were about to enter the parking garage. What is it about today's society that makes people think it's OK to vocalize their opinion? Or worse, decide they get to participate in the disciplining of my child? I looked over at the little old lady with shock, thinking in my head: "Don't you think I'm trying my best?!"

My in-laws recently spent 2.5 weeks in our house (they're from England and we're working on their immigration paperwork so they can permanently move over here -- a topic for another post). Overall, my mother-in-law really did well keeping her mouth shut as Dylan had a few screaming tirades (often because his routine was interrupted, teeth were coming through, or he simply wasn't getting what he wanted). But, she chose a few moments to vocalize her distain for my child's behavior: "Where do you think he got that from? He had to have gotten it from someone!" Nice. Like I've been walking around slapping my son or teaching him to scream at the top of his lungs. Yup. You caught me. That's exactly what I've been doing.

Being a mom these days isn't easy. I work full time and am the breadwinner for my family. If I don't work, the mortgage doesn't get paid. And to be honest, I enjoy what I do. Am I perfect? Certainly not. Do I always react in the right way to Dylan and help him stop his temper tantrums? Clearly not. Looking back on the mall incident, I should have just gotten him out of his stroller and let him walk. Sure, the walk to the car would have tripled in time, but he probably would have stopped screaming.

You know, it's not the temper tantrums that are the hardest to handle. To be honest, they don't really bother me. It's how he's learning to express his emotions. As a mom, the hardest thing to handle is the opinions of others. Yes, I need to just stop caring what others think and just focus on being a mom, but that sounds so much easier to type than to do. :)