"If you're going to be the parent who allows your kid to do some things that other parents you know don't, you can't be the parent who stresses over "the look." So Option One is to ignore it and learn not to be shaken by it."
"I, too, was always the "lax" parent, so I know "the look." Here's the deal: If you're going to be the parent who allows your kid to do some things that other parents you know don't, you can't be the parent who stresses over "the look." So Option One is to ignore it and learn not to be shaken by it. (I practiced this response with parents who were not my friends and with unpleasant in-laws."
When parenting styles differ, a parent who allows fewer rules must either ignore judgment, set clear simple boundaries, or negotiate expectations with others. Open, sympathetic communication with friends or family can prevent tension while preserving relationships. Offer brief pre-arranged compromises for group visits (for example, shoes-on outdoors) or use distraction and redirection to avoid meltdowns. Protect children's individual rules without policing other kids. Practice not being shaken by silent judgment in public. Use age-appropriate explanations for a child when needed and model flexibility while upholding the core boundaries that each parent believes are important.
Read at Slate Magazine
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