Michelle Obama's Spot On Parenting Advice

As printed in My Village News March 2020

If you’re a parent or plan to be one heed this warning, judge others at your own peril. It’s like a bad boomerang. Since becoming a mum anything I’ve ever silently criticised another parent for doing I’ve soon been forced to do to manage my own daughter. 

It has made me a lot more conscious of checking myself before I make assumptions about people I see, probably about 25 years too late but I’m grateful to have this awareness now.

Turns out those old-age phrases like, “You can’t really understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” and “Judge not lest ye be judged,” still have modern currency.

Often when we see parents out and about we’re only seeing the tip of an iceberg. That dad allowing his four year old to eat an icy pole for breakfast? His family may have been up all night with horrifying gastro. The toddler who’s screaming down the otherwise serene cafe for their babycino? Maybe on this rainy day his mum was trying to offer him a special ‘going out’ experience and not give into the screen silencer. Or maybe there is a mum letting her kid watch her phone, probably because she’s spent the last eight hours finding mind nourishing activities for her child and needs 15 minutes to collect her thoughts and recaffeinate.

Very few parents wake up in the morning hoping to be anything less than great in their child’s eyes. It’s just that kids then test that, all day. Some days will flow while others bump along. I heard Michelle Obama say in conversation with Oprah last month, “Walk your walk.” It’s the former U.S. First Lady’s constant advice to her daughters especially now they’re at uni and something I’m going to keep close to my heart on this journey.