Why You Should Stop Asking for Parenting Advice on Facebook

Asking for advice online is an exercise in futility

Kimberlee Murray
Human Parts

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Photo: Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Image

Have you ever stood in a room full of strangers, hopped on a stage, and clapped for attention?

“Hi everyone. Can I have your attention please?” Tap, tap, tap… Is this mic on?

Have you ever asked for advice from hundreds of busybodies who know nothing about you but come pouring into the same room anyway?

“Hi!…*wave*… umm… I don’t know any of you… and… well… this is embarrassing. Listen, I need advice. My teenager spends hours on his phone. I’ve tried everything and nothing is working so can you tell me how to curb my kid’s phone addiction?”

Would you then welcome the surge of strangers who race for the stage, crawling over each other to wave their most valuable piece of advice in front of your face until your eyeballs go cross-eyed?

Advice-giver number one: “Me, pick me! I know exactly what to do. I took away my two-year-old’s favorite toy today and this is how I did it.”

Advice-giver number two: “I don’t have kids but if I were you, I would throw the phone away and elect officials who ban electronic devices altogether because the EMF frequencies contribute to global warming and destroy our planet. Just…

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Kimberlee Murray
Human Parts

A widow on a quest to make widowhood suck a little less. Offering practical tips and resources for widows managing grief and loss at www.widowsquad.com.