I've had to develop scales: a thick skin wasn't good enough, I had to go lizard.

I hate being told what I should be doing. I hate assumptions that I just parent the 1960s way because that was the way me and my cousins and my chums were parented.

"Has he started to smack you back yet?" "No, we don't smack." That's another friend who's never talking to me again, despite the fact HER son was waaaaay worse behaved than mine (I know toddlers are destructive, but hers was igoring instruction because Mummy wasn't up and screaming and smacking; DS just said "OK" and did as I asked).

The "rod for your own back" comments. My children, my back, my rod... why do you care? SHUT UP!

The smug "my children..." comments, especially about sleep. Yes mum. I am your child. I have deep, deep psychological scars you caused. I'm not taking your advice. Liebling is loving and kind and OPEN and knows it's OK to disagree with me and have different tastes to me. I was too scared as a child to even like a TV programme my mother had said she didn't!

Maz, do your thing. They tell you to CIO, tell them you don't torture those you love. TELL THEM what you think of their suggestions. If that fails, tell them what you think of their parenting.

Normally I say "live and let live" but I get sick of the "do this, do that" sort of people and just get mean with them.