Is that opinion or fact?

Image found here

I heard the line 'opinions are like bums, everyone has one and most of them stink" and it stuck with me not only because it made me laugh on that day but because generally it is true!

In the parenting world people become almost compulsive about voicing their opinions. You can call it their apparent 'duty of care' and I will call it 'not able to mind their own business' and we can go our separate ways.

I know all about  having a duty of care. It is my job to have a professional duty of care and carry it out. Apparently people feel that they have a 'duty of care' for strangers children as well.

As I had posted here not a duty of care concerning safety or teaching children positive habits. Perhaps a duty of care for annoying parents.

You see in the 'parenting world' there are many common peeves. For those of you who do not believe in  the 'parenting world' your childless aren't you because otherwise you would not be disputing it is often an alternate reality. Not only for the people who end up being on the same planet as you but because you have some many "that did NOT just happen to me/us/my child in public" moments.

But back to the pet peeves. There are women who get upset about whether babies are breast or bottle fed. There are women who are peeved about cloth or disposable nappies. 

My personal pet peeve is people who present their opinion as fact.

Until I had a child I was unaware that this was a desired criteria to be an Early Childhood Community Health Nurse - ooh that and being a bitch. But seriously I have never met one yet who didn't think they spoke the unfailing gospel truth.

I am happy to receive advice. I feel I know when to ask for it as well as how to sift through the information provided to me. I know also how to let things roll straight off my back or go in one ear, cause me to laugh and go straight back out the other.

But as Aurelia is now a preschooler I have the time and energy to respond to people who would like to present their opinion as fact in an unsolicited manner.

Yesterday I went into the pharmacist for medicine for Aurelia. In some pharmacies it is in the aisles, at others behind the counter. It is a non prescription medication which were were told to give her by her paediatrician and a medicine that we spent $500 in doctors bills before we worked out needed to be used.

So I went into a pharmacist and was served by a young girl.I asked for the medication and she informed me 

"We keep it behind the shelves because we shouldn't be selling it".

"I'm sorry, pardon" I responded. Her reaction made me think that perhaps I had slipped and requested opiates for my daughter.

"We have it behind the counter because we shouldn't be selling it" she restated with a flick of her pony tail.

"And why would that be?" I questioned her thinking perhaps it was close to an expiry date or what have you.

"Children shouldn't be taking this" she stated.

"This is the Junior version, it's made for children" I informed her.

"Well children shouldn't need it".

This conversation was only continuing because she was still holding the box in her hand.

My tongue paused and my mind debated which fork in the road the conversation would take.

"and really what should children with this condition do".

And off she went. I could have pulled up a chair and taken as seat while she sprouted the biggest load of garbage I had heard in some time.

When she finished I calmly said "Is that a fact or just your opinion". She looked at me 'Ummm...". Now suddenly she is lost for words.

'It's not a fact. It's just.your.opinion. I prefer my paediatricians facts to your opinions. Thanks"

and I grabbed the medication and we walked before I told her where she could shove her opinion.

I have shared this story with friends and we've all rolled our eyes but it is something which happens so frequently.

Yes I could dismiss her opinion but what if I was unsure of myself, hormonal, a new sleep deprived mum? What if because she was at a place where medicines were dispensed, thinking her to be sharing fact, I didn't give the medicine to my daughter and she ended up in pain and in hospital.

This blog is my opinion but here is a fact: If you are a stranger we will ask if we want your opinion. Fact 2: If your opinion is exactly that, an opinion then clearly STATE this when asked.Fact 3 Keep your opinions to yourself or get a blog!