Perhaps any parent will agree that if they have someone in their life with experience in caring for children, and at the same time showing a clear desire to help, it seems like areal blessing. For example, when grandparents are actively involved in the raising process. Or, let’s say, friends.
More info:Reddit
The author of the post is a member of a friend group of 5 women who have known each other since childhood
Image credits:Yan Krukau (not the actual photo)
All the women except one of them have kids and the only one who hasn’t has been working at a day care center for a decade or so
Image credits:u/Fair-Bee-4149
This woman, “Emily”, tends to actively offer her help in parenting, and sometimes blames the moms for their “mistakes”
Image credits:Anna Shvets (not the actual photo)
Image credits:RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
So, the Original Poster (OP) has a friend group of five women (including the author) who have been friends since school days, when they were all 13 years old. Now, almost two decades later, four out of five women have families and kids. All except “Emily,” almost all of whoserelationships, as the author recalls, lasted no more than a couple of weeks.
But “auntie Emily” has always willingly helped her friends in taking care of their children, because she has worked in a day care center for more than ten years and, of course, has vast experience. Moreover, sometimes Emily couldn’t resist reprimanding her friends because of what she considered “wrong” parenting. Her friends were tolerant of this, not wanting to offend her. Well, to be honest, Emily’s advice was often quite reasonable.
And only later, when Emily finally returned the child (he, having received what he wanted, immediately calmed down), the original poster told the friend everything she thought about her behavior. Of all the possible reaction options, Emily chose to take offense and left shortly after.
Image credits:Rosemary Ketchum (not the actual photo)
These were people who the OP and her husband trusted completely in terms of caring for the kid, but who were not aware of their changed relationship with Emily. Therefore, when she came up and took the pram, saying that the parents had asked her to take the child for a walk, this didn’t arouse any suspicion.
Image credits:Artur Voznenko (not the actual photo)
“In any case, it seems to me that this woman’s friend has some kind of mental problems associated with the children of her friends. But be that as it may,any helpis only good when it’s really asked for. And this applies to parenting, probably to the greatest extent,” Irina summarizes.
Most commenters on the original post also believe that the author didn’t do anything critically offensive towards her now-former friend, and that she, on the contrary, was incredibly tolerant towards Emily’s behavior for quite a long time. “You. Don’t. Come. Between. A. Mother. And. Her. Child.” one of the commenters expressed the people’s general belief.
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