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>>Well your self-justification and rationalizing in the face of obvious behavior problems for a start. Then your retreat to the old "you're not in my shoes" canard.<<
Every child starts off with behavior problems, it is our job as parents to overcome them. A baby is a totally selfish being, we train them not to be. It takes work and it doesn't happen overnight. Then every child is different and what works for one may not work for another. We have to find what works. I guess that instead of saying, "you're not in my shoes." I should have said, "You have your child and I have mine."

>>But tell me, how could someone "politely" approach you to complain that your child was a little hellion? This is not a challenge, but a very real question. I know parents whose toddlers have attacked the family pet with a weapon that display that same bifurcated sense of civility you have displayed.<<
I will listen to suggestions of other parents. I think that you have made assumptions because of my choice of words. I have pinged Jonathansmommie here. She knows my girls, neither one of them are hellions and I am neither an abusive nor permissive parent.

>>Also, please explain the reasoning behind "you are allowed to have your emotions?"<<
Isn't everyone allowed to have their emotions? It is how we deal with them. It is my job as a parent to help my children to act appropriately when they feel a certain way, not tell then that it is "stupid" or "wrong" to feel angry or scared, as my parents did.

I try very hard to be the best mom I can be but sometimes the love of my children does cloud my views. I think everyone tries. If someone thinks that my children are monsters or even I am acting in a way that is inappropriate, I hope they will tell me. How can anything be changed if no one tells me?

Isn't everyone allowed to have their emotions?

Frankly, no, they shouldn't. Emotions are your subjective reaction to a give situation, they are not absolutes, and shouldn't be treated like they are. I've heard all the rationales for not suppressing emotions and find them simplistic at best, and counter-productive at worst. Some emotions should be condoned, and some should be supressed. If there is a question as to which is which, I suggest a quick reading of C.S. Lewis "First Things."