‘I’m fed up of my sister’s parenting comments – her kids are imaginary’

One parent has hit back at their sister’s constant remarks as they are tired of taking criticisms from someone who doesn’t have any children themselves – they say the reality of parenting is often more difficult than she is trying to make out

Parenting is a very personal choice for couples, single parents and every carer in-between. From weaning to potty training, parents will guide their little ones through many major milestones, and each family will decide which parenting style is best for them and their needs. Sadly, it’s quite common for family members to share their own opinions on your parenting habits, with some being unable to hold their tongue when it comes to making small digs or comments when a child is misbehaving or acting up.

One person is tired of their sister’s constant parenting comments, and says that she shouldn’t hold such a strong opinion given she doesn’t have any kids of her own.

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Taking to Reddit to reveal their frustrations, the parent explained that their son has some difficulty with eating certain foods and socialising, but insisted that it was none of their sister’s business how him and his wife decide to handle their kids’ struggles.

The troubled parent, who remains anonymous, explained: “My sister (27) is very critical of my parenting. My son (4) is very shy and usually doesn’t speak to people outside myself and my wife.

“He’s also very picky and refuses to eat anything he doesn’t like to or wear anything he doesn’t find comfortable. Sometimes this is difficult, but that’s being a parent

“My sister is constantly making remarks like ‘I’m going to raise my children to be polite and sociable’, ‘my kids will eat what I cook or not at all’, ‘my kids will be so helpful and dress themselves every morning’ and such.

“I hate these comments. Everyone thinks they will do great, but the reality is harder,” the parent admits.

Recalling an recent situation where their sister made yet another jibe, the parent said: “This morning my son refused to eat his eggs because there were little chopped up bits of scallions. I started making a fresh batch of eggs for him.

“My sister scolded me and said I was teaching him to be entitled. But if I didn’t make him something he wouldn’t eat, and he needs to eat. My sister started lecturing me again about how she’s going to raise her future children.

Clapping back at their sister’s remarks, the parent was clearly fed up: “I said ‘yeah, well imaginary children are easy to parent. You don’t have kids, so you don’t know what you’re talking about’. She got quiet and left.

“My mom says I was a huge a******* for mocking her for not having kids or being married yet (the guy she thought was going to propose broke up with her, so she’s sensitive about this.

“I said she was holding me to an impossible standard by comparing me and my son to children who aren’t even real. My mom said she’s just trying to help and I threw it back in her face. What’s the reality?”.

Plenty of people took to the comments section to criticise the sister for butting in on the parent’s choices, and suggested that the parent should get their child tested for autism and ADHD, as according to them, some of the child’s habits fit the symptoms.

One person slammed the sister, and wrote: “She’s oh so sensitive about being broken up with but is AOK with sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong? Lmao you play with fire and you get burned”.

Another said: “It’s about time your sister joined the real world. Because, with all this talk of imaginary children, I was waiting for you to ask your sister when she turned into a magical sorceress to control said children”.

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