To Anyone That May Benefit

There is a level of confidence and certainty about the world that is only afforded to those who lack the necessity of experience to understand that their world is not the whole world. 
Not unlike a person that would look at one piece of a complex jigsaw puzzle and presume they can tell you exactly what the picture is.

There is also a level of confidence and uncertainty about the world that is only afforded to those with the experience and hindsight that only time can afford us. 
Not unlike looking at a black and white checker board, as your distance increases you begin to realize it's really much more grey than it is black and white.

Even as a parent, I generally try to refrain from giving advice to other parents, simply because in large part there are no formulated answers. 
From the get go children have their own feelings, sensitivities and inherent vantage points in how they perceive and respond to situations. 

They are as we are, each unique unto themselves so that what may work for some does not at all work for others.

Over time I have come to the acceptance, as with most of life, that everything is just a phase.

Like a chapter in a book that takes far more than a lifetime to read.

There will be difficult times and times of great joy, sometimes they will occur simultaneously.

Often in times of crisis or uncertainty we as parents need sounding boards.

Our emotion may cloud our judgement so that the recipients of our expressions may not be as selectively chosen as perhaps they should be and and helpful suggestions ensue by those with the best of intentions.

However well intentioned our audience may be however, what many fail to consider is that it's not always the thought that counts and the worst kind of advice is unsolicited advice. 
In those times rarely do I feel the level of confidence about accepting that advice as deeply as the one who is so generously doling it out. 

Whenever non-parents offer me parenting "advice", I try to politely smile, nod and thank them.
Just as I do with all people who do the same about other circumstances without the benefit or consideration of understanding the full scope of the situation. 

Then following their generous insight, I give them the future obligation to do the same (smile, nod and be polite) when one day they find themselves in the same situation...and inevitably they will.

Hang in there.

This too shall pass.

d(-_-)b