When you become a parent, you quickly find that while you are short on a lot of things — time, sleep, patience, memory, clothes without spit-up on the shoulders — there is absolutely no shortage of parenting advice. Even before the epidural wears off, people will be lining up to tell you what to do, what not to do and of course, everything that you’re doing wrong. So where can a clueless mom turn for advice worth listening to? Well, some embrace Dr. Spock. Others flock to Dr. Sears. As for us, we curtsy to the pearly wisdom of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, who, as fans of Downton Abbey have noticed, always has something to say. Without further adieu…
On Parenting … with Lady Grantham
On tantrums:
“It always happens when you give these little people power, it goes to their heads like strong drink.”
On the drudgery of parenthood:
“Parenting is difficult enough even when you like the child.”
On the bedtime countdown:
“Sometimes we must let the blow fall by degrees. Give him time to find the strength to face it.”
On changing poopy diapers:
“What IS a Diaper Genie?”*
*with apologies to Julian Fellows
On preschool interviews:
“I shall make sure he behaves normally because I shall hold his hand on the radiator till he does.”
On taming the inner wild child:
“If only he would stay inside…”
On being corrected by your spouse:
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not familiar with the sensation.”
On visiting relatives:
“No guest should be admitted without the date of their departure being known.”
On planning a birthday party:
“Nothing succeeds like excess.”
On giving unsolicited advice:
“I want the pleasure of saying I told you so … “
On putting baby down for a nap:
“It’s over my dear. Don’t drag it out.”
* This post originally appeared on Bonbon Break.
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