You Judged Me and It’s Not OK!
This was going to be a very different post. You see when I first started this post I had been judged by a lady whilst taking my son to the dentist. That lady had made me so angry. I started writing down all of my frustration in a blog post. Then life happened and it meant delaying that blog post. When I returned to it and read it I realised that it wouldn’t make a difference. That lady wouldn’t read it. She wouldn’t care if she did read it. So I decided to change it. I wanted to ask other people what experiences they had. Share our experiences and let others know they aren’t alone. Yes lady, you judged me but it appears that I’m not alone.
You Judged Me!
First I think I need to share with you why I started this post.
Here’s my story;
I took Reuben to the dentist on my day off. Jessica went to her Grandparents.
We were in the waiting room. the lady didn’t pay me any attention. That is until she saw me send a quick message to a friend when she tutted. I guess she thought I was ignoring my boy. The truth was I was reassuring a friend who had just had a baby. It was a quick message and then I continued playing ‘I Spy’ with him. I don’t think he even noticed.
Then she struck up a bit of a conversation with Reuben about pre-school, he answered a few questions but then snuggled in, shy it seems. It was then she asked me what was I going to do when he goes to school. I didn’t get a chance to answer before she abruptly told me that ‘I would need to get a job’. I was pretty abrupt with her when I said I had a job, and a baby, to which she replied ‘Oh’.
She had assumed that as I was there mid-week, mid-day I didn’t work, she had no right to judge me and she had no right to comment. If I worked or not it was none of her business, she didn’t know my story, she didn’t know how her words could have really crushed me.
Sadly it isn’t just me things like this have happened to. Read some of my lovely friends stories;
Lianne from Anklebiters Adventures
When my two were a little younger, because there is only a 14 month age difference some people were stunned they were so close in age. One woman on a bus was asking me about their ages etc then said “well you have one of each now , will have to keep your legs crossed so you don’t have any more so close!” My response was what has any of this got to do with you!!
Kerry from K.L.N
Some of the school mums judged me very quickly when my daughter first started school. They’d made presumptions about me based on how I dressed and the fact that I joined the PTA. They then got to know me and we’re now great friends. However, when they confessed to me their initial thoughts, I actually cried lol. I was so upset to think people thought I was like that. Never judge a book by its cover hey.
Lynsey from Mum, Thats Me
I was judged for having a disabled railcard. I’ve been on the train and overheard people saying “she doesn’t look like she needs a railcard.” They were talking about me loudly. I have epilepsy and can’t drive but they didn’t even stop to think about invisible illnesses.
Kate from Modern Mum
I have 6 children and am 34….I get judged all the time. People assume we must be on benefits and don’t work. One mum at school ignored me for the first 3 years, then found out where we lived and that we own our own businesses. She actually came up to me and said ‘I had no idea you lived in that house….we could be good friends!‘…you can imagine what I said!
I’ve spoken to lots of parents of big families and they all find it the same, constant judgement.
Kelly from Mimi Rose and Me
Being a SAHM I always feel as if I’m being judged. Some people think it’s OK to ask personal questions about why I don’t work. It’s not a case of needing to, I wanted to stay at home with my daughter. I normally respond with I know it’s such a bore painting, playing and being able to watch as much Peppa Pig as I like!!!
Emma from Our Fairytale Adventure
I look younger than I am, so have a have had a lot of experiences where I’ve been treated like a ‘young mum’. I’ve had strangers mutter they that ‘I’ve ruined my life’. I was tutted at the dentist, been shunned at baby groups, been refused a table at a cafe and even had someone say “she only looks about 12 and has two kids already’. Once I say ‘actually I’m in my mid twenties and own my own house’ they are nice as pie. But I don’t see why they wouldn’t be if I was younger. All people should be treated with respect and it upsets me that people react in very different ways because of how old they think I am. In my opinion age doesn’t correlate with parenting abilities, so it seems unnecessary to behave in such a different way to a parent based on their age
Danielle from Someone’s Mum
My son has autism and it does happen. 90% of people are understanding but there are always those who tut and stare. It was really hard to deal with at first but these days I focus entirely on him and making him feel better. No one else matters.
Sophie from Soph-obsessed
I get this a lot especially when I say I’m a blogger. People often go “oh right you don’t have a real job then?” I think you can’t educate stupid so I just smile and send that person love!!
Jen from Just Average Jen
I’m a SAHM with my son at school because he has special needs and I’m always judged because he is 11. People think I should work but care for him is impossible. I could only work days he is at school and would need time off for his appointments etc which are obviously more than the average child. People don’t see that though and that it would literally have to be hours he is at school as no before or after school care either! People always assume I’m just lazy!
Emma from Emma Reed
I went on a hen do and I didn’t know many people there. We sat in a taxi just about to go off somewhere and another woman had the cheek to ask me what I actually do all day as a SAHM and whether I get bored. Then she gave me a funny look with a head tilt as though I must be completely boring and thick. I was so taken aback because I would never sit there and judge her for working. I don’t think I had even caught her name before she started probing my life!
Lisa from That British Betty
I was very young when my daughters were born (17 yrs old with my first) and got the snark comments about being a ‘sponger’ back then. Now I’m older and my girls are teenagers, my career has progressed to a point where I work long hours and occasionally have to go away to conferences and client meetings.
Surprisingly, I find that I now get judged for this! I rarely make school/college meetings due to work commitments and when I was in Germany with work a few months ago, I was accused of ‘jetting off again’ by acquaintances and even family members. The girls are always looked after, happy with our lifestyle and it frustrates me so much how people react.
I feel like if I didn’t work I’d be judged, yet I have a job that I love, earn money to support the kids (I had no choice but to be financially independent at first after a break up left us with nothing) and I still get criticised. I’m hoping that at least my daughters will respect my work ethic and maybe even follow suit one day!
Beth from Twinderelmo
This is going to sound odd but bare with me;
People have often said “oh wow you must be supermum, I don’t know how you do it” as I had twins. Obviously it’s a nice complement but at baby groups I often felt alienated because people didn’t seem to want to moan in front of me therefore actively avoiding talking to me. Or if they did they felt the need to say, oh but I’m sure it’s harder with two.
In fact, I just wanted some/any one to talk to! It wasn’t a competition and we all had babies, I just had a bonus one. I wasn’t a super parent at all. I wanted to chat and moan along with them but they seemed a tad on edge and that was hard.
Have you ever had someone judge you. Let me know what happened below.
I'm Jo. I'm a 30(ish) year old Wife and Mummy to 2 children. On my blog I talk openly and honestly about our lives, days out, toys and more.
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