I hear it all the time, for as long as I’ve had kids. 16 freaking years now…which should get some kind of prize for endurance. Something like a bottle of whiskey every other month for the rest of my life.

Anyway, when my kids were two and dressed in striped and polka dots (with or without tutu), strangers on the street giving me a wink and saying, “Oh, you let her dress herself today?” When they were 5 and ordering meals at restaurants the waiters looking at me and asking if their choice was “allowed”. When they were 7 sitting in the hairstylist’s chair and asking to get their hair cut a certain way, the stylist asking me if I was OK with what they wanted. Now that Sassy has a rainbow mohawk I get a lot of “I can’t believe you let her do that!” from adults and “That’s so cool you let her do that!” from kids.… [more]