If you’re one of those parents with a “perfect child” who feels the need to offer unsolicited parenting advice, it’s time for a reality check. For many, the firstborn often seems like a flawless gem amidst the chaos of other kids at the park. You might think, “I’m so fortunate! Perhaps I should have another!” One mom is here to reveal the truth about that so-called “golden child” and why they might just be a clever ruse to persuade you into expanding your family.
Megan Thompson, a mother of three — including the quintessential first child — recently posted a hilarious video on her Facebook page titled #BackOffBetty. In this clip, she humorously addresses those self-satisfied parents who believe that having one well-behaved child means they have parenting all figured out.
“I used to think I was a stellar parent,” Thompson begins. “When I had just my first child, who was two or three, everyone would rave about her. She was calm, polite, and sweet. I thought, ‘I must be a parenting pro!’”
This resonates on multiple levels, as I too am currently navigating the joys of raising a well-behaved toddler. I often hold back on sharing too much about her online, fully aware that my husband and I are fortunate.
“But then I had another child,” she continues, pausing to let the sound of her second child’s epic meltdown fill the background. “And I realized, it’s not about me. I’m using the same methods. One is a star, and the other is currently locked in their room.”
I don’t necessarily regret wanting a second child — I’ve always envisioned having two — but moments like these make me reconsider. I know my limits!
Thompson then elaborates on the different responses she gets when discussing her son versus her daughter on social media. Often, she faces criticism for “lacking discipline,” with other moms claiming their kids “know how to behave.” Because that’s so helpful, right?
“Once you have more than one child, you quickly learn that they each have their own personalities. It’s not solely your doing. What works for my five-year-old, my two-year-old might find amusing,” she explains. Before having her second child, she admits she was once part of that judgmental crowd of parents — because it’s hard to understand when you’ve only experienced one easygoing child.
Most of the comments she receives revolve around discipline. “Oh, thank you, Betty — I hadn’t thought about disciplining him,” she quips in the video. “Sure, I do discipline him. Most of the time, it doesn’t work. But thanks for the hot tip. Someone should write an article about that!”
It’s laughable. While I may have a golden child, I can assure you I’m not a Betty — those parents are the absolute worst. Each child may come from the same household, but they’re all unique models, you know what I mean?
If you’re parenting a challenging little one, “give yourself a break, and recognize that it’s THEM, not YOU,” Thompson advises. “The firstborn is just a clever trick to encourage you to keep having kids,” she jokes.
“So to all the moms with their ‘sour patch’ kids — that’s my endearing nickname for my second child — if you’re left wondering what went wrong, I don’t know either,” she states. “You have my permission to tell the Betttys to back off and come over to try their own discipline methods. They’ll soon realize it’s not as easy as it looks. Bless their hearts, they just don’t understand.”
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Summary:
This humorous article discusses the realities of parenting after experiencing a “golden child.” Megan Thompson’s video, #BackOffBetty, humorously challenges the notion that having one well-behaved child means you have parenting down, revealing the diverse personalities of children and the misconceptions that come with them.