Sure, our kids are cute, but they also can also really try our patience. When those moments happen, it’s hard to keep our cool. In those trying moments, every parent has a different way to cope. But that doesn't stop others from judging what we do. In a post on Mumsnet, one mom confessed that sometimes, just sometimes, she flips the ol’ bird when her daughter isn't looking — and people online have mixed feelings.
The mom recently posed the question to commenters on Mumsnet.
In the Am I Being Unreasonable forum, the mom wondered if she was wrong for sometimes giving “toddler Dear Daughter the finger behind her back?”
“She definitely doesn’t see and it makes me feel better and is always at home, not out and about etc,” she clarified. On the other hand, her dear sister "thinks it’s appalling.”
Some commenters thought this was a hilarious solution to those frustrating parenting moments.
"That's quite funny!" wrote one commenter.
"Haha! This made me laugh as my sis-in-law was doing this to my very grotty toddler the other day!" someone else confessed. "I can’t see the harm in it as a release when you’re having a really frustrated moment."
Another person could sympathize with having moments of frustration, writing this:
"I'm sure loads of people will be here soon to tell you that it's wrong but I've done it. I've also muttered f— off to myself when my DD is banging on the bathroom door for the millionth time that day. I've never said/done anything to her face but sometimes it just helps to get the frustration out."
Other people thought the gesture was totally inappropriate.
"It's a horrible thing to do to anyone let alone a toddler," one commenter warned.
"It makes me feel a bit uncomfortable to be totally honest with you, although I’m probably unreasonable," someone else agreed.
"I so nearly did this today, but managed not to, it weirdly felt like it would be crossing a line," a third commenter chimed in.
Later in the thread, the mom defended her actions by explaining that for her it's probably the best way to let out some of that frustration.
"I honestly can’t see why it would be preferable for me to either shout at her or bottle up my feelings than to tend to her (f—ing ridiculous whim) then flip her off when she toddles off on her next self-destructive jaunt," she explained.
Her sister "thinks I should suppress my feelings of frustration (even out of sight) lest it create a bad atmosphere for [dear daughter]'s development," she added.
But really, isn't it more helpful to do things this way?
