Pexels/Reddit

Every parent eventually discovers that the hardest critic in the room might also be the one who raised them.

One woman found herself replaying a simple disciplinary moment over and over, after telling her son he needed to complete a chore before getting his shoes back, a consequence that felt entirely reasonable to her.

Her mother disagreed loudly, calling the approach controlling and too harsh, framing her own decades of parenting experience as proof she knew better.

Now, with her mother’s extended visit approaching, she’s torn between asking for the commentary to stop and bracing for the fallout that request might bring.

Keep reading for the full story — Reddit was quite conflicted on this one.

WIBTA if I asked my mom to stop correcting my parenting every time she visits

My mom is coming to stay with us next month for a couple weeks, and lately every visit turns into a running commentary on how I handle my son.

This frazzled mother gives a recent example.

Last time he forgot to put his shoes away, and I told him he had to earn them back by finishing a chore.

She thought that was too harsh and said I was being controlling. I felt like it was fair, and it worked for us.

She’s starting to grow fed up with the unsolicited advice.

Now I’m thinking about asking her to keep those comments to herself while she’s here, but I’m worried it’ll turn into a bigger argument.

She knows her mother means well at the end of the day, but something still has to change.

She says she’s just trying to help and that she raised three kids, so she knows what works. I know she’s coming from a caring place, and I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but it leaves me second-guessing myself and feeling caught in the middle between my approach and hers.

WIBTA?

If her mother does have advice, she could definitely be a bit more tactful about sharing it.

Reddit was quite divided on this one.

This user sees both sides.

Maybe her mother had a right to say something about this.

Her mother shouldn’t undermine her, but there is some nuance to this one.

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This user didn’t freak out about the parenting as much as other commenters did.

Reddit split hard on this one.

But at the end of the day, nobody’s arguing the grandmother doesn’t love her grandson; the real debate is whether love gives her a permanent say in how he’s raised.

Three kids raised decades ago don’t automatically translate into expertise on raising one today; parenting evolves, whether grandparents want to admit it or not.

Ultimately, both women could stand to learn from each other a little more.

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Author

Benjamin Cottrell

Benjamin Cottrell | Assistant Editor, Internet Culture

Benjamin Cottrell is an Assistant Editor and contributing writer at TwistedSifter, specializing in internet culture, viral social dynamics, and the moral complexities of online communities. He brings a highly analytical, editorial voice to his reporting on workplace conflicts, malicious compliance, and interpersonal drama, with a specific focus on nuanced stories that lack an obvious villain.

As a published author of rhetorical criticism, Benjamin leverages his academic background in human communication to dissect and elevate viral social media threads. Instead of simply summarizing events, he provides readers with balanced, deep-dive commentary into why the internet reacts the way it does. In addition to his cultural reporting, he is an experienced fine art photography essayist and video game reviewer.

When he isn’t analyzing the latest viral debates, Benjamin is usually chipping away at his extensive video game backlog, hunting down the best new restaurants, or out exploring the city with a camera in hand.

Connect with Benjamin on Instagram and read more of his essays on Substack.