Stranger complimented me on my parenting

MainelyFoolish · July 2012

DD was having a difficult day, one of those days where she was whiny about everything. The kind of day you don't really want to take her out in public, but we needed a few things from Walmart ASAP, so we went anyway. It was about 4:30 pm. DD had had a nap/rest time before we went but it didn't improve her disposition much.

All through the store, DD was either wandering off or whining. She was pretty annoying but I kept my calm, telling her to stay with me or she'd have to ride in the cart; telling her "no, we're not buying that today," etc.

On the way out of the store, DD wanted a doughnut from Dunkin' Donuts (inside the Walmart near the front door). She had chosen not to eat her lunch earlier, so I told her absolutely not, girls who don't eat their lunches don't get treats. All the way from the checkout lane to our car, she kept whining and fussing for a treat and I just kept reminding her that she had chosen not to eat lunch which was why she was hungry, and that we don't get treats all the time, especially if we haven't eaten our lunch. By the time I was puting the bags in the car, DD was on my very last nerve.

As I'm about to put DD into the car, a woman driving by rolls down her window and says, "Ma'am?" to me. I turned to see what was going on. She told me that I had the perfect tone of voice with DD -- firm but not yelling. I was totally taken off guard. I believe I said, "Well, I'm trying" and the woman drove away.

I was nice, I guess, to get a compliment, but totally weird to think about how when you're out in public, everything you do is seen by other people. It's easy, especially when you're wrapped up with your kid, to forget that you're not in your own little parenting bubble.

danienross · July 2012

I absolutely love when I get parenting compliments because my father is always telling me how lousy of a mom I am. So in my world it balances out.

joyfullyfound · July 2012

Aw, that was nice of her! And good for you being firm with your LO - I dont think that's very common any more She'll be grateful for it... someday... :P

pevila · July 2012

I think it's a bit weird, but I also think that people need to compliment other people more. Sometimes all we do is criticize...

PurpleDrewbie5 · July 2012

Wow! I bet that made you feel nice. :-) I will say that it really is pretty rare (at least in my experience) to hear parent's tell their children no, in public, and stick to it even if the kid is melting down.

JessesGirl&MackenziesMom · July 2012

Well, it does sound like you were handling the situation well. :-) I'm sure people see a lot of giving in or yelling in grocery stores especially.

I agree that it is wierd to realize that people watch and listen to SO much when you are parenting out in public. I tend to notice how other moms interact with their kids, so of course others are doing the same thing to me, but I always think I'm in my own little world with Mackenzie.

FormerlyKrista555 · July 2012

danienross:
I absolutely love when I get parenting compliments because my father is always telling me how lousy of a mom I am. So in my world it balances out.

I'm sorry he does that. That sucks.

Happily Overwhelmed · July 2012

pevilallonga:
I think it's a bit weird, but I also think that people need to compliment other people more. Sometimes all we do is criticize...

This. It's odd to have people admit they are watching and judging. But it's awesome to have that confidence boost. Pay it forward sometime. The world needs more compliments. Especially the off guard ones you don't expect.

brooketini · July 2012

That's really nice! My SIL's dad complimented me on my interaction with DD one time when she threw a fit at my niece's bday party. It made me feel so good and I've never forgotten it.

Want a personalized experience?

Stranger complimented me on my parenting

Re: Stranger complimented me on my parenting

Choose Another Board

Search Boards