I think the worst things my son has said is that he didn't like me at the moment. Boo Hoo, he was in trouble. I don't let it get to me because he really didn't mean it the way he said it. My kids are generally very good and loving. So I don't hear a lot of negative stuff. I am sorry you have to go thru that with your children. It seems a little unfair for you... But they are just kids and don't comprehend that words can be hurtful.

My four soon to be five year old always has something to say. When I want an honest opinion about an outfit I go to him. Because if it looks bad enough for him to notice I need to change.

The thing that hurts me most that he says is he didn't have a fun day. This only hurts when I have spent the day doing things for him. Yesterday we went to the hobby shop and him and my husband bought a new remote control truck and a new motor for another truck we have (it was $350!!) so when he is tired at the end of the day and says he wishes he would have had more fun it stings and makes me wonder why I spent the money in the first place.

Most of the time I just remind myself that he is young and it is bedtime so he is cranky and would say anything to get another minute out of the bed. Other times few and far between I just have to walk away and let dad deal with it.

I love it! The mom guilt is dead on, too. Isn't bizzaree?

My son makes dinner time feel like the judges table on Top Chef at times. He's only 7. "Mom, the chicken was executed well. The beans really stood out, I couldn't get enough of them. The gravy was over-seasoned and the parsely muted out the gravy-goodness. The meal could have done without it anyway"

Kids are funny in that way..they are so brutally honest.

I try to take their opinions about food somewhat serious..i know whats a hit and what they will eat, it makes meal planning easier. I hate wasting time and food to try to force them to eat something they dont like and they end up eating and hour later afterwards anyways.. Im not tyrannical with the food thing and typically make two main dishes and the typical veggie sides (like one spicy, one not) because Im not forcing them to eat spicy pork and kimchee with jalapenos on the side.

Fashion advice? I get that from the husband more than the kids...but they do ask me to wear certain outfits..especially if it "matches" them...

All in all, I just take it all with a grain of salt..the good and the bad, i think its important to show them that you value their opinions as "little people" but not let it deteriorate your self esteem.

 I did have one bad day where i felt like a failure and could please them or do anything right..but it wasnt them, it was me stressing out, funny thing is that the kids knew it and told me "stop freaking out, mom"

OH, my gosh!  Now I feel completely horrible, because I know I gave my mom a hard time as a kid.  I was kinda a picky eater, and wasn't hesitant to make comments. 

One things parents do take lightly, is that kids have a different palate too.  True, it changes over time, but sometimes parents have the mentality, "oh they're just kids, they don't know what they like.  You just haven't tried it. You'll learn to like." Etc. This goes on through adolescence and that's where it becomes a problem. My mom was like that, kept trying to feed me things I just never liked ... green peas, squash, mushrooms, mayonaise.  i think now that I'm on my own, she's finally accepted the fact that I STILL don't like these things, never have and never will.  She has finally stopped  forcing me to try them.  But other than my mom was and is a great cook.  She cooked what she liked, sometimes tried to accomadate to our tastes. 

Great post!

I can give a little perspective because 4 out of my 5 children are 18 and older.  Some of them were complainers about dinner and some were not, but as they got older they became very appreciative and I've had my girls tell me how glad they are that I taught them to eat healthy and they all love my cooking now :)  As far as the whole commenting on your clothes and other things, I think if I were you I would not take offense but at the same time I would start talking to them about how words can hurt and about respect for others and that you don't always have to point out what you don't like about someone.  Depending on how they said what they said I would probably stop in my tracks tell them that was disrespectful and ask for an apology.  They don't always understand at that age that the way they say something is mean or disrepectful, but they need to be taught.  It really is very important.

I feel when this comes along I may try the "Uncle Buck" approach?
I'll know when the problem arises. : )

In the meantime I'll try to go with the styles as best as I can to avoid my child's judgement.

Only one comment on here made me laugh -- the one saying that your kids disrespected you because they gave you honest opinions. They are telling you the truth, even if it does hurt, it is better for them to learn that than to learn they need to not tell you everything, because you KNOW that will come back to bite you in the butt later in life.

My son is only two right now, and he is talking a lot but not really doing anything that comes to a compliment or whatnot. It does get rather discouraging when I tell him that I love him when I lay him down for bed and he looks at me and says, "No." Haha, but I know it is just because he is tired and needs to go to sleep.

wow, I could have written this myself!!!!

Its right on point to how I have felt! and my kids are only 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mother never let my sisters and I speak to her that way. We didn't grow up with very much, and we were taught to be grateful for what we had.

Most of the time our dinner was a sandwich or Ramen noodles, and we never complained because we were always reminded of those who went to bed without anything to eat at all.