Woman blasts best friend for calling her toddler a spoiled brat: 'Totally not okay'

Parenthood can be an exhilarating yet challenging journey, marked by various ups and downs. In the midst of this rollercoaster, parents often turn to friends for support and understanding.

However, what happens when your closest friend makes a harsh judgement about your child's behaviour?

One mother recently found herself in this predicament, seeking solace and advice on an online parenting forum after her best friend labelled her toddler a "spoiled brat" for being, well... toddlery.

When the mother found herself distressed over her best friend's comment regarding her child, she turned to the online world for guidance.

This concerned mother, a member of a parenting group on Reddit, shared her frustration about her friend's lack of experience with children. Her friend had recently spent time with her two-year-old, witnessing the expected ups and downs of toddler behaviour, including crying and emotional outbursts.

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"Seeing how he drops and screams when he doesn't get what he wants, cries a lot, etc. Today she said he's a spoiled brat," the mother recounted, defending her child by explaining his age and emotions. She kindly requested her friend to refrain from using derogatory terms, as she feared it might harm her child's self-esteem.

Initially, the friend apologised, but swiftly followed it with a passive-aggressive remark: "I guess I won't come over anymore since you want to be mad about stupid things."

The mother reiterated her boundaries, clarifying that she wasn't angry but simply wished for her child not to be spoken about negatively. However, the friend retorted with, "I said I was sorry," and proceeded to ignore her for the remainder of the evening.

In search of validation and advice, the mother sought the forum's opinion on whether her reaction was warranted. She conveyed her sadness at someone branding her toddler a 'spoiled brat' for displaying typical age-appropriate behaviour, concluding, "He's a toddler!! Toddlers do that."

The members of the parenting forum swiftly rallied around the distressed mother, offering their support. One person replied, "I'd take her at her words and not have her over again," suggesting that this might be the simplest solution for all involved.

Another commenter echoed the sentiment, emphatically stating, "No... You are not wrong. That’s totally not okay."

A third commenter didn't mince words and plainly labelled the mother's friend as "an a**hole."

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However, one perceptive user delved deeper into the situation, noting that the friend's response, "Be mad about stupid things," hinted at underlying issues beyond mere annoyance with the child. They speculated that the friend might be venting some unrelated frustration onto their friendship.

Highlighting the importance of setting boundaries, another user pointed out, "Some people step over the line when it's not their kid, and there's nothing wrong with reminding them that there are lines there. They're your baby, and you get to define the lines of appropriateness."

Turning to the term 'spoiled brat,' some commenters took issue with its usage. One person questioned, "I don't understand why they always go to 'spoiled brat' when a kid is having a tantrum or upset about something."

They clarified that true spoiling occurs when parents indulge a tantrum with rewards like ice cream, toys, or a device while allowing a child to experience and learn to manage their emotions isn't spoiling them.

Another individual agreed, saying, "Any parent that calls your toddler a spoilt brat has some serious learning to do."

"If she can’t handle being respectful to your kid and respect boundaries, then she’s welcome to go find another friend," concluded another.

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