Like many things we do in life, the way people decide to raise their children can often be judged or scrutinised. This may cause many parents to overthink – but it's important to remember not to take it to heart.
One mum can't help but think she's being judged by fellow parents at nursery for the clothes she decides to send her child in with, because they have been giving her weird looks.
She's worried it looks like she's neglecting her child because her top has "paint splodges" on it – but in reality she's "perfectly clean".
The mum, who posted anonymously to popular parenting forum Mumsnet, explained that her daughter, who is approaching three, often gets messy from painting at nursery.
Although she doesn't mind this, it does mean her clothes get stained. Recently, the mum has been receiving "odd looks" from other parents.
She explained: "I have never worried about the condition of her clothes or the state of cleanliness – I'd rather she has fun while I'm at work.
"But this morning I sent her in a jumper that had paint over it - stained. It was perfectly clean, just had green paint splodges over the front.
"I got an odd look from some other parents dropping off at the same time and on reflection I'm wondering whether it's looking like a safeguarding or neglect issue.
"She's always clean in herself, just her clothes could have any number of paint splodges over."
Other parents completely sympathised with the mum, saying they do the same – and as long as the chid's clothes have been washed it's not a problem.
One person said: "My daughter goes into nursery in stained clothing. Our nursery even ask we put them in clothes that they wouldn't wear outside of the nursery as they do so many crafts/painting/water play/outside activities."
Another agreed, saying: "I mentally divide clothes into nursery clothes and non-nursery clothes. If it's already stained it's automatically in nursery clothes."
"Basically all of my daughter's tops have stains on them. She's always in clean (as in washed) clothes, but I'm not going to throw away every top that gets paint or tomato on it," commented a third.
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