Kids get a bad rap: A note to the childless child haters

Two weeks ago, I uploaded a video to YouTube of a weirdo parody song I wrote in hopes of getting Ellen DeGeneres' attention so that maybe possibly I would have the tiniest margin of a chance of getting on her show. Crazy, right? I thought so too. I had no idea and still really don't know whether it will do anything- but I had a fun time making it, and it seemed that people were having a really fun time watching it.

Even if it didn't "work", so to speak, I had a good time doing it and made a few people laugh and so no matter what- it was a worthwhile pursuit. 

Or if we want to shorten my reasoning: Why the hell NOT?

Well, it's all shits and giggles until someone shits on your giggles. 

I am not new to negativity or ugly comments. They don't even hurt my feelings. Any time I happen to bring one up, I always get the same questions- "Why? Why not just let it go?"

Good question, my friends- truly it is. Usually I do. Usually I just delete it and go about my day as if nothing ever happened. Haters gonna hate, right? Right. 

Occasionally, though, I get a comment that rubs me the wrong way and brings up a bigger point that I feel the need to bring up. If I don't- who will? That's like sending a child to time out without telling them why. Half the time- they'll never have any idea if you don't inform them exactly why.

Also- sometimes I just get in a mood.

Today I'm creeping along, checking out the comments section of my video- when I come across this gem:

Before you ask- no, I did not let this person have it. I didn't lay into them- and I'm not going to here today (although that might be amusing.)

If you have not seen the video in question- watch it here:

Dear Anonymous commenter, and to others who choose not to have "spawn" of their own,

Thank you for your comment on my video about why a Mommy-Blogger and other Mommy-Bloggers should be on The Ellen DeGeneres show. 

It isn't that I don't understand your disdain. I assume you don't have children of your own, or I would sure hope not with how you refer to those that don't belong to you.

Before I had little ones of my own, I too, had a disdain for little ones. They run, they scream, they cry. They can be incredibly frustrating to deal with, and perhaps you don't understand how we parents can just "let" a child scream and cry in public and do nothing about it. Trust me- I get it! Kids even annoy me sometimes and I happen to have two of them. It takes a special kind of person to become a teacher when you don't have kids of your own. Patience of a saint. It's not a detriment to your personality or your character if you don't have kids, or have chosen not to. While I personally don't know that my life would have felt complete without having children, that is a very sensitive and serious life-altering decision to make- and it isn't for everyone. 

That is none of my business, and I wouldn't judge you if that were to be the case. It's your life, not mine.

With that being said- what exactly compelled you to leave a comment on a video that had lyrics really only having to do with being a parent- that my child is "incredibly annoying"? What else did you expect? Am I supposed to lock my children in their rooms in order to record this video to appease your personal tastes? Was he supposed to sit silently in the background instead of having a good time? Should I have snapped at them to shut up, or let them crack out in front of the TV so I could get through one take without them in it... even though the song was about them? 

Since when did having a good time become annoying? It's not like the kid was standing behind me screeching "MOOOOMMMMMYYYY! I'M HUNGRRRRYYYYYYYY! MOMMY! MOM! MAMA! MOMMY! MOMMY LISTEN TO ME NOW!"- that I could see as annoying. I realize I am biased as the "spawn" in the video came from my nethers, but even in an objective sense, that comes nowhere close to the level of "annoying" kids can be. Even on a GOOD day. 

I guess you could say I'm a tad confused, anonymous commenter.

Yes, this is the internet, where anyone is allowed to say anything they want to anyone they want- but what ever happened to respect? Or tact? 

The one thing I learned as a child from my parents, and I have carried on as a parent to my own children (and trust me, realizing that all those years my parents were right was not an easy pill to swallow) is that just because you can say something, doesn't mean you should. You know that old saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?"- yeah. That. They taught me to respect and treat others how I myself would want to be treated- and that is something I pride myself on now as a person. Just because someone is different than me; perhaps they made different life choices or are choosing to raise their children differently than me- doesn't give me the right to be outwardly nasty. And really, what would the point in that be? What purpose does it serve to criticize not only another person, but another person's child? And what kind of person does that make you?

It's one thing to disagree with someone or their choices- it's another to be rude and disparaging; why be mean? Really, I'm curious. Why?

Furthermore- if you think THAT is an example of an "incredibly annoying" child... man I really hope you don't or have not already procreated.

So, you don't like kids. Or you don't want kids. That's all fine and dandy- but don't think you have the right or the knowledge to be able to make assumptions or judgement on something you have no idea about, being that you lack the experience of raising another human being and therefore couldn't possibly understand what it is like making sure someone else is nurtured but not coddled, cared for but not smothered, and most of all loved. I sure hope that I raise my children to know better and to have more respect for strangers than to call their children annoying, or to refer to them as "spawn" (which obviously was meant to be derogatory in the context it was used in.)

Basically what I'm telling you is to live your life the way you want, and I'll live mine the way I want- and we don't have to agree, but it would be nice to have a little mutual respect. And for future reference- you may want to refrain from criticizing a small child. The wrath of a pissed off mother is one unequaled by anything else on this planet. Consider that fair warning.

Signed,

Parents

P.S.- When you have to follow up a rude comment with "I'm really not a horrible person"- perhaps that's guilt telling you that you just might be.