0 Your child is not my child...when we as parents cross the line

Google Images

Sure, I may not feed my child Frosted Flakes for breakfast but, I don't have the right to tell another mother not too. That's not my child.

As mothers, we can get very passionate about the decisions we have made for our families. Knowing that we have chosen these things because we see them as beneficial, we feel like everyone should choose them too. The truth is, they don't have too. No one has to do what we do and we have to accept that.

I had to accept this fact as well. For example, I breastfed my daughter, I saw so many pros to breastfeeding and I never thought anyone would disagree with the decision. I figured all mothers should breastfeed their children. Breast is best and people who didn't were usually ill-informed or lazy. (I know right...) I learned things are not so black and white. Yes, I still believe breast is best and breast milk trumps formula but, I have also learned that every mother has a right to choose what she wants to feed her baby. I chose what was best for me and my child and I would hate for someone else to tell me otherwise or try and take that right away from me.

We live and we learn.

I have learned that when I focus on my own family and doing what is best for us, I am not concerned with sticking my nose where it doesn't belong. Some things are just none of my business. I'm not the parent of anyone else child except my own and I will be held accountable for her and her only. Realizing this, felt so freeing. I felt a peace come over me, seriously. I'm no longer looking for a debate. I don't care. As long as they aren't breaking the law of the land, there isn't much I can do.

It's about respect. We, as parents have to respect what other people choose to do with their children. No, I may not like the choices they make but, I do need to respect them and act accordingly.  In doing this, I am teaching my daughter as well. I am teaching her that we may not like everything we see and hear but, that doesn't give us the right to put others down or belittle them. We have to be concerned with ourselves and what's going on in our own backyard.

I was kind of sad when I saw women (mothers) confessing to spending too much time on the computer debating and actually neglecting their children because of it. I had to look at myself, I didn't want that to be me. I only have one opportunity to raise my child right. I will never get this opportunity again, and neither will you.