How are other parents "parenting"?
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- Published on Sunday, 10 July 2011 13:34
Do you ever wonder how other parents "parent" their kids? Are they like you? Different?
Recently, I asked some of my readers to comment about their parenting styles.
Here is the question I posed:
Do you consider yourself a Helicopter Parent? Permissive? Do you have a nice healthy balance of spending time with your kids while not smothering them? I'd love to hear your ideas and thoughts and what makes you the parent you are.
Here are the responses I received, thus far:
I strive to seek a balance. While I never would have thought I'd be, I'm much more of an attached parent than I thought I'd be. I didn't even spend a night away from my three kids (except for being at the hospital while having them) until a couple months ago. (Kids are 8, 5 and 3) - Mom
I parent with clear rules in a gentle manner. However, there are times I do get intense... however, I am not a helicopter nor a permissive parent. I always parent with respective. - Mom
I try and find as much balance as I can with my kiddos. However, as they are getting older...I am trying to find a way to be involved and not smother or helicopter them. Can't wait to see how others respond with their advice! - Mom
4C for Children : We've been blogging about this! Great topic.
I try and find a balance with Sara. She is now 16 and so spends much (if not all) of her time with her friends. But we spend time going to school, weekends, dinners on Fridays, dates - and just bonding time ANY time she needs me. I feel we have an amazing relationship - that there is mutual love and respect. She has learned to mirror the treatment she receives from us. I am truly blessed! I taught Sara as much as I could about life (the hard things - discussing drugs , alcohol & sex) when she was 12 years old. I knew that she would be responsive at that age. I also warned that she would move away from me shortly - that was human nature, but to always remember that I loved her - and would be waiting for her to come back. She then told me - a year later - that she was afraid to grow up because she didn't want to "leave" me! We are exceptionally close. But she has LOTS of space. I am her parent - but also her friend. Hard to explain. Not her "friend" - but someone she can trust IF she needs to come and confide. As I said - I am blessed! - Mom
I think I fall somewhere in between. I try to give my kids space to figure things out by themselves, but because they are still little (1 and 4) I am there to give constructive advice, opinions and help. I do have a hard time being away from my kids, and I prefer to have them home with me. I am a firm believer that you should learn and grow from mistakes that you make, and I try to teach my kids by example. While I can admit that I am far from the "perfect parent", I try to be the best parent I can be every day. Sometimes I am successful, and sometimes I fail, but thankfully, tomorrow is a new day and a chance to try again. - Mom
I feel my parenting skills are balanced. I have 2 boys ages 7 & 3 whom are very active. When I make rules, I follow them too. When I make promises, I always follow through, which teaches them trust. I am involved in their lives without smothering them. I give them praise when deserved, but I also discipline when needed. I am creative during playtime, craft time and even nighttime storytime. I have told my boys many, many times that the reason I am an awesome mom is because THEY have made me that way! - Mom
Always such a struggle with this. So hard to watch them try to figure things out on their own without micromanaging. I try to teach them not to think of things as mistakes but rather a step in the right direction to figuring things out. Mommy instinct never wants to see them hurt, dissapointed or struggling, but I know it's healthy and important. - Mom
I am the parent I am so that I am the best part of what my mom was while shedding the worst of what she could be. - Mom
*Unfortunately we didn't receive any responses from fathers this time.
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