Have you fallen out with friends over you children?
The study, conducted to discover more about the parenting habits of Britons, polled 1,358 parents across the UK, to find out more about how they behave when it comes to certain situations with their kids. All respondents to the study had at least one child under the age of five.
It initially asked the respondents if they had ever argued with a friend about their children; to which just under a third (31 per cent) said yes.
The respondents who stated that they had argued with a friend about their children were then asked to specify why the argument had generally taken place, and were able to select multiple answers if applicable.
There’s a thin line between giving an opinion and criticising, and it’s completely normal to be more sensitive and protective when talking about your own children
The majority of parents (37 per cent), stated that they argued when their friend had ‘criticised’ a parenting decision of theirs, whilst just a fifth admitted that the argument happened when their friend had ‘told one of their kids off’.
Furthermore, 23 per cent confessed that the argument was provoked by them taking their child’s side in an argument between both of their children; whilst just under a quarter (21 per cent) of the respondents expressed ‘concern over one of their friend’s parenting decisions’, and fell out as a result.
Mark Pearson, Chairman of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “It can be uncomfortable when you get yourself in this situation as a parent, as different views on parenting choices in particular can cause disagreements between friends; and nobody wants to hear that they’re making the wrong choice when it comes to their children."
The same respondents were then asked to specify what the consequences were, following the argument with the friend(s) in question. Half of the respondents simply said that it had resulted in an ‘uncomfortable atmosphere’ with their friend; whilst a fifth stated that they ‘stopped talking’ to their friend altogether. On the other hand, nine per cent stated that they simply never talked about the argument again, after the ‘incident’ had occurred.
When asked whether or not they felt comfortable with friends disciplining their children, two thirds of the respondents taking part said ‘yes- but only if necessary.’ In contrast, over half (54 per cent) of the parents taking part claimed that they didn’t feel comfortable disciplining their friend’s children. When asked why, 71 per cent explained that they didn’t want it to cause a problem in their friendship.
Mark added: "There’s a thin line between giving an opinion and criticising, and it’s completely normal to be more sensitive and protective when talking about your own children.
“What works best for one family might not suit another, and it’s best not to fall out over a difference of opinion. As for telling your friend’s children off, I can see why so many people feel uncomfortable with it.
"Discipline is a personal choice for each parent, so if you don’t think your friend would like you telling off their child, maybe take the safer route and wait until they’re home to do it for you!” he said.
FemaleFirst @FemaleFirst_UK
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