Interesting article

ktwed09

Just read this article, and wanted to share.. Just a warning, it's pretty long.  Maybe it will help get the board moving...I need entertainment since it's slow at work!

 http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/07/how-to-land-your-kid-in-therapy/8555/?single_page=true

I thought this was a really interesting read! I try not to judge or comment on people's parenting because I clearly have no experience to base any judgments on, and I honestly think that most people try to do their best, and that parenting is one of (if not THE) hardest jobs in the world. I just thought this was an interesting perspective.

I've encountered a few parents who (in my opinion) overindulge their children, or try to make things far too easy for them. One example I can think of is a note DH got from one of his 4th grade parents last year, asking him to please excuse little Matthew from homework every Thursday, because he had CCD on Wednesday nights, and couldn't possibly accomplish both in one night. It's one of those things you hear about, and you think, "I would NEVER be that kind of parent.". But, the thing that scares me is that people I know, and respect, and wouldn't expect that kind of behavior from, have done similar things, and I wonder if I'll be able to stop myself when I have kids. I hope I can, but who knows?

Any thoughts? 

 

indomesticbliss

Good post.

I could go on and on about pros and cons of it, but I will just say that parenting is an extremely difficult thing. If you don't do A you're neglecting child, but if you do A you're spoiling your child. Parents always seem to feel the need to defend their decisions, and I think it's sad that so many moms and dads make others feel bad because they choose a different parenting style. Personally, I think it stems from not being 100% secure in your own decisions, so questioning why someone would do something a different way than you makes sense, however it often comes off in a very aggressive manner. IMO, this indecisiveness leads to the parent-child BFF relationship, where a parent wants the child's approval of their parenting decision.

reenie83

There is no perfect parenting. I agree that there is a big sense of entitlement amongst children (because they have been given everything that they've wanted) and a fear of making mistakes. No matter what a parent does, there's a chance that the child is going to need counseling. I think that people in general are under a lot more stress growing up these days...which leads to more rates of anxiety. I think that this goes beyond just parenting though.