Why do people tell you how to raise your children?

I've been thinking about this all day at work. It never fails that every person who wants to discuss my pregnancy/baby gives me their "advice" and SWEARS that I'll be doomed if I don't follow what they say. (Some of these people don't even have kids!) When I first found out that I was expecting, everybody told me that this would happen, and I never really thought it would bother me. Well, while I always appreciate *good* advice, I also wish people would realize that my husband and I are perfectly capable of raising our daughter without random direction. Actually it's sort of offensive sometimes to a first time mom for people to act like you're a blooming idiot just because you haven't had a child of your own *yet.* Aren't all mothers a "first time mom" at some point? (Duh.) 

I WILL make mistakes. I WILL have times where I wished I would have done something differently. I WILL realize that things I thought I would do, I don't..and things that I didn't think I would do, I do. But isn't that the beauty of it? Learning from your mistakes working to become the best parents that we can be for OUR daughter? (Not what "worked" for others?) Regardless of anything, I *know* I'll be a great Mama and Ry will be a great Daddy for our little girl.

& as a side note, if I do have any questions, as a girl, and a daughter myself, I have a Mama who did a pretty great job of raising four children herself that I can ask.  ;) 

So, since everyone likes to hand out opinions and judgements, here's mine to first time mommys (and daddys)..YOU'RE your baby's parents. Nobody else! Do what you know is right for your child, not what Jim-Bob the neighbor told you to do. 

That's all :) lol