Respect, Support

The Truth Behind Unsolicited Advice

It was once said: “Those who know the least will always know it the loudest”. I believe this statement is very true. Some people find it difficult to keep their opinions to themselves and will go to extreme lengths to express it. But the irony lies in that their opinion may not be of any substantial value, as it is based on ignorance and lack of knowledge.

Since the birth of my first child, I have been bombarded with all kinds of parenting advice. Some I’ve taken on board but some I’ve disregarded. A lot of it was unsolicited; many assumed that because I was 18, I ‘obviously’ didn’t know what I was doing.

Looking back, I am incredibly grateful of all the advice I was given; I was lucky to be surrounded by people that cared and wanted the best for me. But at the same time, I believe that everyone has the right to decline advice if they feel it isn’t right for them.

Different things work for different people, so the given context should be taken into consideration. I may have been 18, but I was very sensible at the time and never gave up when things got hard. I was wiser beyond my years; it showed when I self-diagnosed my daughter’s speech delay at 8 months! I always made sure I asked for help, but only when I felt I needed it.

I think sometimes people need to be given the chance to TRY. It is so easy to put our 2 cents in when we believe we know better, but we need to give others the chance to learn for themselves. There is no ‘right’ way for everyone; just the right way for a person in a certain situation.

Life is a big learning curve; we won’t always get it right. But other times, we might. So be supportive of one another and be there when you are needed. The best thing you can do for others is give them the chance to learn… and watch them become the best person they can possibly be.

Thuy Le (formerly known as Thuy Yau) is a freelance writer and Youth Work graduate living in Perth, Australia. She loves to share her own personal experiences about overcoming adversity, as she believes that human beings are more capable than they realise. She writes to make a positive difference in the world and to inspire others to learn from themselves and their own experiences. Her writing has been discussed on radio, won writing contests, appeared on The Huffington Post UK and major Australian sites such as news.com.au, SMH, Kidspot and Essential Kids. She has just completed her first book – a memoir - and is on the search for a publisher.

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