Mothers of Older Children
One more predator—the mother of older children (MOOC).
This woman preys on younger moms, giving her “advice” liberally. Freely.
Not that there’s anything wrong with giving advice. She’s been there. She KNOWS.
It’s what the advice IS that may be problematic.
I once had an MOOC tell me that sending my child to Europe to learn a foreign language was a TOTAL waste, because they all speak English over there.
Another one told me that it was absolutely necessary to send your mediocre student to a massively expensive private college, because they’d never get in to a state school.
But my favorite MOOC moment was when a well-meaning woman took me to task for not hiring “help.” The children, you see, were the ones who were suffering because their mom was overworked.
(The very same lady ran off with the cabana boy a few years later.)
SO…
Before accepting any advice from any mother of older children, you have to assess a few things:
Do you like this woman?
If you were stranded on a desert island with her, would you talk to her? EVER?
And, perhaps more importantly, how did HER kids turn out?
Over the years, I have noticed that MOOCs often have an agenda. Basically, they wish to screw your kids up as royally as their own.
The old adage about history repeating itself applies. If one doesn’t learn from one’s mistakes…
When confronted with an MOOC, if you don’t wish to appear rude (and you may very well, it’s your call) I suggest:
“Oh, thank you! You do know how very much I value your opinion.”
Chances are, she doesn’t.
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7 Comments
Lilaphase
Wednesday, 11th March 2009 at 8:45 am
I tend to take issue with any unsolicited advice, but it does tend to rear it’s head around the mooc’s.
Lilaphase’s last blog post..Weird
[Reply]
The Lawyer Mom
Wednesday, 11th March 2009 at 12:32 pm
The best advice my mother ever gave me is not to give unsolicited advice. And, although I am not a MOOC, I must admit this advice can be awfully hard to follow sometimes. Like this morning, when I wanted to give some unsolicited but mightily provoked advice to the mom who cut in front of me in the carpool line. The pouring down rain restrained me. I’ll bet she was a MOOC.
The Lawyer Mom’s last blog post..Saturn’s Rings and Armageddon
[Reply]
themother Replies:
March 11th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
If your advice to this woman was about where she could stick it, it would be TOTALLY appropriate.
[Reply]
mrsbear
Wednesday, 11th March 2009 at 8:36 pm
The only advice I get from MOOCs is from my own mom and my MIL, and judging from my husband and I and our mucked up childhoods, your theory holds true. I wouldn’t take their advice if they paid me.
mrsbear’s last blog post..When Zombies Come to Visit
[Reply]
Ashley
Thursday, 12th March 2009 at 6:49 am
LOL oh so true!!
[Reply]
Marie
Saturday, 14th March 2009 at 9:04 pm
As a MOOC, I DO have one piece of advice: keep your mouth shut. At times I have practically had to bite my tongue off to restrain myself, but not offering my two cents has served me well! lol
Marie’s last blog post..This Bites
[Reply]
Barb Desmarais
Sunday, 15th March 2009 at 1:03 pm
Certainly being a MOOC doesn’t automatically give you the right to offer unsolicited advice and just because you’ve “been there” doesn’t mean what you’re going to offer is wise or relevant to the situation.
[Reply]
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