Warning! There is a disease that is running rampant out there! It’s called You-Need Syndrome. This disease is inflicting countless people. The primary symptom is the apparently overwhelming desire to tell people what they need to do. Since becoming a parent (and especially after becoming a single parent) I have faced people suffering from this dreaded disease on a regular basis. “You need to go ahead and feed him formula and stop breastfeeding” “Tiffany, you need to put Christian in daycare” “You need to get a real job” “You need to get out and have a life” “You need a man”. If one more person tells me what I need to do, I swear I am going to scream.
I am living life the way I want to – staying home with my son, running a business from home, and being single until the RIGHT man comes along. I am not unhappy or depressed or lonely. I make sure that I handle my financial obligations – one way or the other. Christian is healthy and developing at a great pace. We are both happy. Why do people feel the need to continuously pass judgment on my life when I, the person living it, am happy? Granted, there are some things that I would like to change – and I am actively working on them. However, I do not feel as though there is anything missing from my life that I am not seeking to obtain already.
I could really go on and on about these different topics. But I won’t. Suffice it to say that:
1. As long as I can avoid it I will NOT be getting a traditional job. At least not until I actually WANT one.
2. I do not plan on ever sending Christian to daycare
3. I loved breastfeeding and would do it again happily.
4. If you are going to complain about me not having a life, how about you volunteer to watch Christian for a couple of hours while I go out and socialize?
5. I am not ready for a relationship and do not have a real desire to date in the near future. If the right guy comes along – then I would probably be ready. As of right now, I do not have any real options and so it is not a priority for me.
6. I am no longer under the impression that having a traditional job is the only (or best) way to achieve financial freedom. CLEARLY millions of people with traditional jobs will NEVER reach that. I don’t consider my businesses to be hobbies. They are BUSINESSES.
7. We each have one life — our own. Focus on yours and let others focus on theirs. Also, just because you think something doesn’t mean that you need to voice it.
8. If you feel as though you are suffering from You-Need Syndrome, please take a moment to reread #7.
How do you guys deal with unwanted advice? Share in the comments section
