My Bodhi Tree

Just a little venting

Please pardon the following venting session.  I normally try to stay positive on the blog, but sometimes a girl’s just gotta vent.

Last night we went to a low-key dinner party hosted by a couple friend of ours.  They had two other friends there that, like them, don’t have any kids.  They also had one couple there who brought their 3-month-old baby girl.

Dimitri was invited so he came too.  He is a great kid but has tons of energy, like most 19-month-olds.  He was having a lot of fun running around and playing with our friends’ dog and was in a great mood.  But when it came time to sit down for dinner, it was already after 8pm (his normal bedtime).  He’d already eaten dinner and wasn’t hungry; plus, the menu didn’t have much to tantalize a toddler’s palate.  He sat down with us for a few minutes but then started protesting because he wanted to run around. 

Booth and I were both ravenous and wanted to eat, so I ate some food quickly then went off with Dimitri so he could continue running around.  And that’s when I heard a lot of judgment emanating from the dinner table. 

Several of the guests — again, most of whom do not have kids — started talking about how to discipline a child “when he is acting like that.”  Two of the childless guests said they were watching Super Nanny and had learned that “you really can’t cater to them like that.”  Then the parents of the 3-month-old also started offering their discipline tips and asked me, “Don’t you ever tell him no?”  Then several of the guests started saying that they would have no problems spanking their child. 

At this point I became so disgruntled and annoyed.  I don’t think Dimitri was misbehaving in any way, and, regardless, I think they were out-of-line to offer their discipline tips and judgment.  I wanted to tell the parents of the 3-month-old that they were in for a rude awakening, if they think their baby is always going to sit still and be quiet when they want her to.

Perhaps I’m being too sensitive (I sometimes can be), but the whole thing left me feeling so yucky.  I don’t know if I’ll be taking Dimitri to a party without other similar-aged kids and understanding parents anytime soon!

I feel better venting — it’s not that big of a deal.  But please remember if you don’t have kids, or you think your kids are superior: (1) try not to judge; and (2) definitely don’t let a protective mama bear overhear you if you DO judge.  That is my public service announcement of the day. :)