I love my friends, but I love my children more. This means that if a friend acts in a way that is unkind or disrespectful toward my child, I’m going to side with my kid.
Offenses can be minor, like the friend who invited herself to lunch with our friend Sharon and her toddler then spent the entire meal criticizing the poor boy for his restaurant manners. Or major, like Monica’s former BFF who was constantly trying to micromanage her son’s behavior, down to telling him what color crayon he should use. The result is the same – annoyance at our friend and protectiveness over old child.
Any negative feedback lobbed at our children land like a knife in our hearts. Maybe that’s why we get so defensive when anyone criticizes our child. We can laugh it off from strangers, but from a friend the sting feels deeper, the betrayal greater. Afterall, they are supposed to be on our side. To know our deepest flaws and love us anyway.
Many a friendship has disbanded or lost steam over parenting issues. Has this ever happened to you? What was the triggering issue?
Can Friendships survive children?
I love my friends, but I love my children more. This means that if a friend acts in a way that is unkind or disrespectful toward my child, I’m going to side with my kid.
Any negative feedback lobbed at our children land like a knife in our hearts. Maybe that’s why we get so defensive when anyone criticizes our child. We can laugh it off from strangers, but from a friend the sting feels deeper, the betrayal greater. Afterall, they are supposed to be on our side. To know our deepest flaws and love us anyway.
Many a friendship has disbanded or lost steam over parenting issues. Has this ever happened to you? What was the triggering issue?