Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Have you ever accidentally offended another parent? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:24:54 +0000 Andrea on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442519 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:51:39 +0000 Andrea 442519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Geez, she was touchy for no reason. I was recently insulted by another parent. She found out that DH isn't home for dinner and bedtime for DD on most nights. She kept going on and on about how that's not right and how she wouldn't stand for that. That irritated me because I wasn't even complaining about it myself. I don't think that he should be home that early every night. Not unless he wants to be fired! heffalump on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442516 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:45:15 +0000 heffalump 442516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ People always call my LO a he, even if she's dressed all in pink. I don't get offended, she's young and still has a boyish face. And I tend to dress her in boyish clothes so it's really my fault. Once I thought I was surrounded by people who didn't sleep train so I made a comment saying how it wasn't for me and I just personally couldn't sit there and listen to my baby cry. Well I forgot that one mommy did sleep train (even so I don't think what I said was offensive, it's the truth. Some mommy's are stronger than others and different things work for different people) and she went off on me about how well it works and how it works for every baby and how EVERY baby would benefit from it. Well my LO slept 12 hours straight since 2 1/2 months with no sleep training...... so her words didn't mean much to me. MrsSCB on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442504 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:41:57 +0000 MrsSCB 442504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Aw, I think it's kind of silly she snapped at you! People called me a "little man" a few times when I was really little (I wore a lot of red, lol), and my mom would just say thanks for the compliment and move on. I mean, really, at a young age it's hard to tell! I suppose that mom must automatically know the gender of every child she looks at to get so offended. Mrs. Jacks on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442499 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:06:36 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 442499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ You should try being a doc and doing your interview in gender neutral terms before you know the sex... Especially in my state where some of the names get pretty weird. I have to say that it's really hard, but there are lots of contortions that I've learned! erinpye on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442477 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 01:48:05 +0000 erinpye 442477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @banana: Haha, my mom DID pierce mine when I was a baby for that very reason! I don't think I've offended anyone so far, but I do realize I have to be careful what I say, and I'm always careful to not say "he" or "she" if I can help it, even though when people call my girl a "he," I never get personally offended. When they're babies, they look like babies! It's often really hard to tell gender unless they are in pink head to toe. runsyellowlites on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442143 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:29:14 +0000 runsyellowlites 442143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @prettylizy: That's the same thought I had. Especially with how anti-gender specific this generation tends to be. (I know moms that pierced their boys ears). @banana: No kidding. I know moms that have done it just to make known their lo is a girl though. :-/ Whatever... We don't plan to pierce them anyways. I just don't get why she had to blame something though, just apologize for the mistake & move on. Lol banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442136 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:26:26 +0000 banana 442136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @runsyellowlites: I guess she wanted you to pierce her ears so that other people would know she was a girl? Yeah, like THAT'LL be the reason you would pierce her ears. haha. Weird people! prettylizy on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442132 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:25:29 +0000 prettylizy 442132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @runsyellowlites: oh, we must have missed the memo where you stop being a girl if you're ears aren't pierced! lol! runsyellowlites on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442128 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:23:56 +0000 runsyellowlites 442128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DS is 8 so I'm SURE I have. Don't have any particulars I remember though. Lol I did offend a non-parent (or atleast didn't have a child with them) the other day. The lady complimented my cute son & I corrected her that P was a she. Totally not rude bc I know P is bald & when I wear her you can't see her clothing, no biggie. She got upset & with attitude said, "Well her ears weren't pierced." Then proceeded to ask how old she was. When I told her almost 8 months she said, "See, she's old enough to have her ears pierced." I just smiled & walked away. O_o banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442071 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:06:48 +0000 banana 442071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: It's totally depressing. Makes me want to be anti social now. mrbee on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442065 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:04:08 +0000 mrbee 442065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @banana: if you're near a mom or near your own baby, it's more ok! This is a depressing topic. ChitownRo on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442062 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:02:23 +0000 ChitownRo 442062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ lol, thanks for the info! banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442057 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:00:11 +0000 banana 442057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: Ohhhh. Interesting. My DH talks to babies all the time and I never thought anything of it! He talks to babies and toddlers all the time. Like he'll say "Hey buddy! What's up?". Maybe I should tell him to stop. Never thought that it would offend people! mrbee on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442055 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:57:48 +0000 mrbee 442055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @banana: I'm sure it's fine for you!! I'm a dad, the rules are just different. banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442042 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:52:25 +0000 banana 442042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: HUH? Some people don't like it when you talk to their child? Why not? Shoot. I probably offended dozens of parents then. :( mrbee on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442038 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:51:21 +0000 mrbee 442038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @ChitownRo: well there's the additional complication that I am a man, so I can't say much without getting dirty looks. I say: "your baby is adorable!". Or, "what a great walker!" if they are walking and young. Or very rarely I will say directly to the baby, "hello, baby!!". But usually not, some parents don't like it if you talk to their child. banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442027 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:42:09 +0000 banana 442027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: Lesson learned. =\ It's too easy to offend parents nowadays. ChitownRo on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442024 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:38:58 +0000 ChitownRo 442024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: what are your go-to compliments? please share :) mrbee on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442023 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:37:57 +0000 mrbee 442023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @banana: I never try to find out gender. Too many pitfalls! banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442018 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:35:13 +0000 banana 442018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Rubies: Aw wut? Rude! You need to avoid that crazy mama. I hate one-uppers so much!!!! @mr.bee: What is your advice for a non-offensive way of finding out the gender? I usually say "How old is your little one?" But sometimes they say "6 months!" (without the He or She). So then I'm back to square one! @mrs.pen: That's so funny you mention your friend because I have a friend that always says things like that too. Like "I know you think chocolate is poison, but we're having chocolate cake at Sienna's party. Will you guys still be able to come?" prettylizy on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442010 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:27:49 +0000 prettylizy 442010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Rubies: dood that's not right!! Mama PL would go crazy on her ;) Mrs. Pen on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442009 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:26:29 +0000 Mrs. Pen 442009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @banana: I made the same mistake at target! It was a 3 week old who was cute as heck and I asked how old "she" was and the guy snapped, "HE". It's kind of hard to distinguish newborns :( and he was dressed in neutral taupe... I think I do offend a friend of mine sometimes just by the way we eat! Whenever she's invited me over for dinner she always prefaces the invite by saying, "I know it's not organic or gluten free! but I hope you'll come.." And I never decline her lunch/dinner invites because she eats differently than I do :) mrbee on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442008 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:25:55 +0000 mrbee 442008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @banana: I have 2-3 pre-approved compliments for other parents. They are all gender neutral (don't use gender-specific pronouns) and carefully worded so that they don't suggest I'm trying to hit on their kids. It's so exhausting! I hate this new world where so many people assume the worst whenever you open your mouth! So now I just never do, unless I'm forced to. Rubies on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442005 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:23:01 +0000 Rubies 442005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yikes. I don't think I've offended anyone (at least, I hope not) but I get offended a lot by this one woman I know. She is really big on comparing our children and one-upping EVERYTHING. She once called LO a "little midget" - ugh. banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-442004 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:21:57 +0000 banana 442004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: Yeah, I'm gonna try to keep to myself from now on. I was just trying to be friendly but it always gets me in trouble! mrbee on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-441999 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:19:13 +0000 mrbee 441999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sorry you got snapped at... :( That's why I never speak to other parents if I can help it. banana on "Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-ever-accidentally-offended-another-parent#post-441995 Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:16:08 +0000 banana 441995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was at an indoor play gym a few weeks ago and I saw a cute baby (around 12 months?) playing next to my son. So I asked the mother "Oh, she's cute. How old is she?" and she totally snapped at me "He's a SHE. And HE'S 12 months. Thanks for asking." Dang.. I was kind of upset actually because she totally gave me attitude and it was an honest mistake. Plus the baby was wearing a necklace and it didn't hit me until later that it was an amber teething necklace! Oops. Have you ever accidentally offended another parent?