Is it wrong to blame odd statements/opinions on not being a parent?

[Cassius2]

I think 'blame' is maybe too strong a word. I would maybe stride towards more of an 'explain'. and yeah, sometimes not having parented a child/ren people's understandings/perspectives of what that entails will necessarily be based on observation and dashes of ideals. but i suppose as the person receiving that information you do have to place it in context and then see if it warrants being offended/perplexed etc.

i have friends that dont have kids and sometimes they might say things that just dont apply, but then again, i meet parents in the schoolyard who parent so vastly different to myself that our conclusions regarding behaviour and management are on two completely diametrical paths despite us both being parents to wonderful, happy kids.

but as for your immediate thought bubble? I think it is valid. not to place judgement or invalidate that persons assessment but rather to put it into context and know if it relates to the situation or could potentially explain and give perspective to that persons statement. and then you can take it or leave it or even take on board some of it and discard the rest.

[meow]

I read great blog on this yesterday. I think it does as a generalisation seem to explain some lack of understanding. But it doesn't justify being an ********.

Dear parents, you need to control your kids. Sincerely, non-parents.

[MrsFabuloso]

I dont' think anyone can have any idea of what it's like to be a parent until you are a parent (that is a step parent/adoptive parent/foster parent....) a parent figure, I mean being a carer of children 24/7. You just can't get what it's like to be responsible for a little person, to make decisions for them, to look after them, to do what's best for them, and often to over look what it is that you want for yourself, full time.

[DizzyLizzie]

I know this is an old post but it hit a nerve and I had to respond.

For some people, being childless is not a choice but a point of great agony. Rubbing such a person’s childlessness in their face (even unintentionally) will likely be taken with great offence. Telling an infertile person, for example, what experience they have missed out on in life is just plain cruel. My husband and I suffered from infertility for many years and there was nothing worse than being excluded from “parent’s conversations" because we had not had the privilege of being in that role ourselves.

Just as people without children might not of stood in your shoes, you have certainly never stood in theirs. You absolutely have no more right to judge them for not having children than they have to judge your parenting.

When someone without children says something that you think is naïve, just take a moment to reflect on how lucky you are to be a parent and “in-the-know”.