What type of parents are you?
I was watching “Super Nanny” on TV the other night, (for those of you who are not familiar with the show…it’s about Jo Frost, the “Super Nanny” who visits a “chosen” family who needs help in either restoring order in the family or disciplining an unruly child or parents, in some cases, and she does achieve the requested goal in the end) and couldn’t help writing about this subject “what types of parents are you?”!
To me, there are no bad children…just bad parenting. What makes me the “expert” in this field? Well, I am a parent of three and since this is MY blog…I guess that makes me the expert!
If you don’t like what you read…I’d suggest you exit this blogosphere and start your own blog. That way, you can gripe about anything you like, like me. They don’t call me WAYA (that’s right…Who Asked You Anyway) for nothing! 
There are a few simple rules in our house, I’m sure you have your own set of rules as well, and they are as follow: you have to be polite, respectful, considerate, kindhearted, empathetic, honest, just to name a few. We, as parents, want the best for our children and the only way to achieve that goal starts at the basic human characteristic. Everything else will fall into place once the foundation is set.
So here is my interpretation of the different types of parents that I’ve encountered on my way to parenthood. I see myself in some of the categories mentioned below…but believe or not, I’ve evolved with each child. It’s a learning process constantly and I do pity the parents who are complacent in their own ways child after child.
- The Pushover/My-Child-is Perfect Parents…Your answer to everything your child says is “yes honey”! You allow your child to bully you to the extreme! You’re afraid to upset your little darlings, and God forbid if you have to discipline your child. That’s right, you have a backbone of a worm…it doesn’t have one!! I say “take back your domain and rule the house like you ought to…as an adult and a parent!”
- The Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses Parents…Whatever your next store neighbor’s children have, you got to buy one for your little ones…but bigger and better! Who doesn’t want to spoil their kids (within reason, of course) so I say “what are you teaching your children?? Do they need this kind of competition…in material things? Have you thought of what it will do to your children’s self esteem, once they are grown, if they don’t get their way?
- The Sports Dream Parents…You want your child to be the next football or basketball star…so you will go to any length to get him/her enroll in any sports courses out there, at any cost. And education takes the back seat. I say “if your child gets injured, what does he/she have to fall back on? To me, education is so important and cannot be substituted unless you know for sure that he/she will be the next Bill Gates or something.”
- The Overachiever Parents…Your child is busier than you being shuffled to all different activities, be it music lessons, sports, extra school courses, etc…all week including the weekends, without any say. I say “take a break and enjoy them and allow them to be children. Some after school activities are definitely worth the time so kids won’t be bored and get into trouble, but it has to have some limits.” You must ask yourself this question “am I living through my child’s dream?”?
- The Backseat Parents…You are the opposite of the Overachiever Parents. You think your job is done as soon as you planted your seeds. You don’t have any interests in raising your children. What they do is their business, you don’t know where they are half of the time and who their friends are. I say “wake up and get on the parent wagon. Your children need love, nurture and directions from you, the parents!”
- The Bully/Chaotic Parents…This has to be the worse parents out there. There is no order in your house, your children are your mirror image…a bully in disguise. Respecting others is out of the question because they don’t even respect themselves. I say “what are you breeding? A future convict?!”
- The Overprotective/Germophobic Parents…I’m guilty of this with all of my children. But I’m getting better at letting them do their own things. Can you imagine the claws coming out from this Mom if they encounter the offsprings of The Bully Parents? I say “it’s your job as parents to protect your children, but let’s not overdoing it to a point of smothering. Yes, I’m telling myself this everyday!” And as for the germs…when my first child was on his first plane ride, I wiped down everything…his seat, the window and even his seatbelt. I’ve gotten better after having two more kids. As my husband would say “a little germ won’t hurt them!”
- The Hippie/Artsy Fartsy Parents…You are the carefree parents and your children are free to do what they want. There are no rules in the house and everyone is on a first name basis instead of “mom & dad” (I know, this might be generalizing a bit much!). Your children are your bestfriends and very independent. I say “hey, if it works for you…that’s great! But don’t you think children need some directions from you sometimes?”
- The Overly Bragging Parents…One of the criteria of being parents is the right to brag about your children. We all do it, some more than others. But when bragging becomes a competition (i.e, my 1.5 years old daughter is potty trained already and your son is not potty trained yet and he’s how old? *incredulous look*)…that’s when I say “whoa, take it back a notch now! You will be very unpopular very soon and so will your children, by default!”
Boy, I’ve never thought there were so many different types of parents out there. Believe it or not, I’ve met them all. Whatever your parenting skill is, I wish you luck on your journey to parenthood.
Just keep this in mind, your children are very impressionable creatures. They are a mirror image of you, so think before you speak and act. Who knows, your little one might be the next President of your country, or the next Mother Teresa. But I take healthy and happy kids any day, everything else is just a bonus!
Happy Parenting!!
I was watching “Super Nanny” on TV the other night, (for those of you who are not familiar with the show…it’s about Jo Frost, the “Super Nanny” who visits a “chosen” family who needs help in either restoring order in the family or disciplining an unruly child or parents, in some cases, and she does achieve the requested goal in the end) and couldn’t help writing about this subject “what types of parents are you?”!
To me, there are no bad children…just bad parenting. What makes me the “expert” in this field? Well, I am a parent of three and since this is MY blog…I guess that makes me the expert!
If you don’t like what you read…I’d suggest you exit this blogosphere and start your own blog. That way, you can gripe about anything you like, like me. They don’t call me WAYA (that’s right…Who Asked You Anyway) for nothing!
There are a few simple rules in our house, I’m sure you have your own set of rules as well, and they are as follow: you have to be polite, respectful, considerate, kindhearted, empathetic, honest, just to name a few. We, as parents, want the best for our children and the only way to achieve that goal starts at the basic human characteristic. Everything else will fall into place once the foundation is set.
So here is my interpretation of the different types of parents that I’ve encountered on my way to parenthood. I see myself in some of the categories mentioned below…but believe or not, I’ve evolved with each child. It’s a learning process constantly and I do pity the parents who are complacent in their own ways child after child.
- The Pushover/My-Child-is Perfect Parents…Your answer to everything your child says is “yes honey”! You allow your child to bully you to the extreme! You’re afraid to upset your little darlings, and God forbid if you have to discipline your child. That’s right, you have a backbone of a worm…it doesn’t have one!! I say “take back your domain and rule the house like you ought to…as an adult and a parent!”
- The Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses Parents…Whatever your next store neighbor’s children have, you got to buy one for your little ones…but bigger and better! Who doesn’t want to spoil their kids (within reason, of course) so I say “what are you teaching your children?? Do they need this kind of competition…in material things? Have you thought of what it will do to your children’s self esteem, once they are grown, if they don’t get their way?
- The Sports Dream Parents…You want your child to be the next football or basketball star…so you will go to any length to get him/her enroll in any sports courses out there, at any cost. And education takes the back seat. I say “if your child gets injured, what does he/she have to fall back on? To me, education is so important and cannot be substituted unless you know for sure that he/she will be the next Bill Gates or something.”
- The Overachiever Parents…Your child is busier than you being shuffled to all different activities, be it music lessons, sports, extra school courses, etc…all week including the weekends, without any say. I say “take a break and enjoy them and allow them to be children. Some after school activities are definitely worth the time so kids won’t be bored and get into trouble, but it has to have some limits.” You must ask yourself this question “am I living through my child’s dream?”?
- The Backseat Parents…You are the opposite of the Overachiever Parents. You think your job is done as soon as you planted your seeds. You don’t have any interests in raising your children. What they do is their business, you don’t know where they are half of the time and who their friends are. I say “wake up and get on the parent wagon. Your children need love, nurture and directions from you, the parents!”
- The Bully/Chaotic Parents…This has to be the worse parents out there. There is no order in your house, your children are your mirror image…a bully in disguise. Respecting others is out of the question because they don’t even respect themselves. I say “what are you breeding? A future convict?!”
- The Overprotective/Germophobic Parents…I’m guilty of this with all of my children. But I’m getting better at letting them do their own things. Can you imagine the claws coming out from this Mom if they encounter the offsprings of The Bully Parents? I say “it’s your job as parents to protect your children, but let’s not overdoing it to a point of smothering. Yes, I’m telling myself this everyday!” And as for the germs…when my first child was on his first plane ride, I wiped down everything…his seat, the window and even his seatbelt. I’ve gotten better after having two more kids. As my husband would say “a little germ won’t hurt them!”
- The Hippie/Artsy Fartsy Parents…You are the carefree parents and your children are free to do what they want. There are no rules in the house and everyone is on a first name basis instead of “mom & dad” (I know, this might be generalizing a bit much!). Your children are your bestfriends and very independent. I say “hey, if it works for you…that’s great! But don’t you think children need some directions from you sometimes?”
- The Overly Bragging Parents…One of the criteria of being parents is the right to brag about your children. We all do it, some more than others. But when bragging becomes a competition (i.e, my 1.5 years old daughter is potty trained already and your son is not potty trained yet and he’s how old? *incredulous look*)…that’s when I say “whoa, take it back a notch now! You will be very unpopular very soon and so will your children, by default!”
Boy, I’ve never thought there were so many different types of parents out there. Believe it or not, I’ve met them all. Whatever your parenting skill is, I wish you luck on your journey to parenthood.
Just keep this in mind, your children are very impressionable creatures. They are a mirror image of you, so think before you speak and act. Who knows, your little one might be the next President of your country, or the next Mother Teresa. But I take healthy and happy kids any day, everything else is just a bonus!
Happy Parenting!!
wow!! you really have an opinion hey!?? well i am a proud mother of 3 and currently trying for baby number 4. i cannot categorize my parenting, but i think i have a bit of all of the above in my way of bringing up my kids. i am firm, but fair,i do spoil them ,occaisionally &my children have much respect for everyone they know, they are all quite independant, intteligent and loving.they have certain activities and clubs they like to attend,but they are never pushed from pillar to post.by no means are they angels, nor are my husband and i perfect, but what we have,works,and i love being a mother.