[OakShannon]

Since I'm not teaching, I've been working with a homeschooled 11-year-old who has some disabilities. Yesterday we did a cooking project at his request and it involved meat. Which brought up that fact that I'm a vegetarian. His mom asked me if I planned to raise my son as a vegetarian. When I said yes, she made it sound like this was not only nutritionally unwise but practically a violation of his civil rights.

You know, it really bugged me. It STILL bugs me. I felt totally defensive and argued with her in my head all the way home. Which is crazy!! I like her - but I definitely don't agree with her food choices for her kids (they eat a lot of junk), so why would I get upset that she disagrees with me?

Normally, I don't let things bug me too much. Life goes down easier with a grain of salt and a sense of humor, you know? But when people openly disagree with my parenting choices, I get all defensive and upset. Like when my family and friends insisted that I needed to sleep train Daniel right away or I would spoil him. I tried explaining about attachment, but finally blew up at everyone and told them they could think whatever they wanted, but they were not allowed to use the word, "spoiled" again in my presence. This is NOT the way I usually talk to my family. I think they're still a little surprised.

Is it just me? Does anyone else overreact like this? What unwanted parenting advice have you been given? And what do you do about it?