In Loco Parenting

Having recently visited my daughter, and having observed the unrelenting demands upon her and her partner as parents of small children in these challenging times, I’ve been thinking about what I should have said. What I did say was along the lines of: No matter what choices you make, somebody will confidently inform you that you erred, and without walking one step in your shoes, they will explain why you should be doing things differently. They will not offer time, money, or resources to assist with improving the situation, but they will make you doubt yourself and even despair. Give their advice some basic consideration, but if it doesn’t resonate, IGNORE THEM. You are doing the best you can, and you have the most accurate information about the challenges to be faced and the resources at hand. Good decisions are made based on good information, and as parents, you are most likely to have the best information. (I say that knowing precisely how badly parents can and do mess up.) That…