They say parenting is easy until you have kids.

The sarcastic saying hits the mark pretty well, but it leaves out one other detail. Besides the kids you have to deal with, there’s also the crowd of judgemental people who’ve always got something to say about your parenting.

It’s never pleasant, but it never stops either. Everyone’s an expert on something – and this is one of the most dislikable qualities in a person ever. The internet only makes this worse. Being far apart and behind a computer screen takes away any sort of accountability for things that are said.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGnUlHtAQ_q/

Caitlin Fladager, a mom from Vancouver, Canada, had to put up with some pretty opinionated and judgemental people over one particular parenting decision of hers.

Your life changes for the good when you have kids, and Caitlin knew this very well.

Much of your me-time disappears, and you’ll be finding yourself sleeping a lot less. You know, just to put it lightly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFLfXZTgsXS/

So the unwanted “advice” doesn’t particularly help. Caitlin in particular is pretty vulnerable to this, as she’s got quite the following on Instagram and TikTok. We all know that the discourse over on both sites isn’t always pleasant or civil.

That means lots of eyes watching every little detail in her posts, and often formulating their own little details and conclusions too – which is never a good thing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-VsYCkg8eT/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=4d2160a5-8646-4a95-b96a-8abaa52451c1

Recently, the mom of 2 came under some criticism for her decision to buy her kids inexpensive clothes from Walmart. Since Caitlin herself enjoys wearing designer clothes (that she buys with her own, hard-earned money), some people took this as a sign of her selfishness or disregard for her kids.

Basically, “Why do you wear expensive, designer clothes while you buy your kids cheap clothes from Walmart?”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYfdX3AX9D/

On the surface, this does seem like a fair question. But as is usually the case, it isn’t always good to just look at things on a surface level.

Caitlin fired back, saying the following :

⁣”Yes, my kids clothes mostly come from Walmart, while I buy myself clothes from other stores. ⁣You know why? Because I am not constantly outgrowing them, like my kids are. ⁣I am not constantly spilling food and dirt all over my brand new clothes. ⁣I am not outside running around in the dirt for hours on end. ⁣ I am not tripping and ripping holes in brand new clothes. ⁣”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDHkHSZAu6p/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=a0d00b2e-6f61-4fdd-be9d-dd51305b3997

She worded that better than you or I could, and she makes an excellent point.

It might sound cliche, but this proved to be another example of not judging a book by its cover.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QKX2MAyLt/

Most of the people you interact with online have lives, thoughts, opinions, and experiences you don’t know about.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ9gwWSrOVW/

“I buy them cheaper clothes, because I refuse to be the mom who yells at them for spilling a drop of ice cream on a brand new shirt. ⁣I strive to be the mom who sees them spill, and says “oh no big deal!”⁣. I strive to be the mom who sees them playing in the dirt, not caring that they are ruining a brand new outfit. ⁣I strive to be the mom who teaches them there is more to life than having nice, expensive clothes.⁣ So yes, my kids mainly live in Walmart clothes. ⁣And they love it. “

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC99NNuAVgK/

Well put, Caitlin. Though those folks claimed that the whole thing was “Not a good look for you as a mom,” Caitlin made it pretty clear that making surface-level judgments about other people isn’t a good look either.

Caitlin has more stuff to write and talk about over at her Instagram, so give that a look if it fancies you. Please think of giving this article a share as well!

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Source: @caitlinfladager on Instagram, Caitlin Fladager on TikTok