What's one of the most difficult jobs in the world that doesn't come with a manual? Can you guess?
Parenting isn't easy and not everyone's cup of tea. Despite that, it doesn't stop people from criticizing others on how to be a parent regardless of the fact that every kid is different and raised in a different environment.
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One parent who knows this all too well is a mental health advocate and mommy blogger Caitlin Fladager.
Caitlin Fladager, 26 from Vancouver, Canada with over 330k followers on Instagram recently decided to address the criticism she gets for dressing her children in clothes from supermarkets like Wal-Mart, while she chooses to wear much more expensive cloths.
She wrote: "'Your kids only wear clothes from Walmart, while you get dressed up a lot. Not a good look for you as a mom...' That statement is something I get a lot."
"Yes, my kids' clothes mostly come from Walmart, while I buy myself clothes from other stores. You know why? Because I am not constantly outgrowing them like my kids are.
"I am not constantly spilling food and dirt all over my brand new clothes. I am not outside running around in the dirt for hours on end. I am not tripping and ripping holes in brand new clothes. I am not changing my mind daily about what color I have randomly decided I don’t want to wear ever again. I am not a kid."
"I strive to be the mom who sees them spill, and says 'oh no big deal!' I strive to be the mom who sees them playing in the dirt, not caring that they are ruining a brand new outfit. I strive to be the mom who teaches them there is more to life than having nice, expensive clothes."
"So yes, my kids mainly live in Walmart clothes. And they love it. They love being able to spill, get dirty, and outgrow clothes in a day with me not caring.
So here’s my kids, in an outfit I bought not long before this day. Here’s them covered in dirt, spilling ice cream, and living their best life. That’s all I could ever want.
I will not feel bad for buying my clothes for them from Walmart. Because when I look at this picture, it reminds me why I do that.
"The dirt, the smiles, and the ice cream makes me way more happier than a photo of them dressed in clothes they hate, that they will outgrow in a week. This right here, makes me so much happier."