s/o: How strict of a parent are you?

CleoKitty · December 2010

Not a clicky poll because there's just too much variation!

But in general, do you consider yourself to be very strict? Lenient? Middle of the road? Where do you fall on the spectrum?

KrisBriMcBunny · December 2010

With my older kids I was more towards strict...kinda like in the middle between middle of the road and strict.

With Michelle I seem to be a bit more lenient with her...I let her get away with more than I did with my older kids.

goodheartedmommy · December 2010

I'm strict, yet understanding. I expect them to respect me and listen to me, but I have realistic expectations of them as children.

DandelionMom · December 2010

Middle of the road. I'm very strict about some things but I really pick my battles. Like I don't care if beds are made but I expect excellent manners.

FloF9 · December 2010

My parents were outrageously strict.

1. ex: I remember when I would get scared at night (I was under 5 yrs old) and wanted to sleep in their bed - just for a while. They never let me. Ever. Thankfully my sisters who were older would coddle me in my bed and I would fall asleep. So this kind of thing isn't a big issue with me - I can almost always transfer them to their bed once they fall asleep.

2. Another big thing - eating. My mother forced me to finish every bit of food on my plate. Sometimes I wasn't all that hungry - she overfed us. I know I had food issues because of this. As long as my kids eat some food on their plate I know they'll be okay.

I'm pretty middle of the road.

jessicaclare · December 2010

goodheartedmommy:
I'm strict, yet understanding. I expect them to respect me and listen to me, but I have realistic expectations of them as children.

I think I'm this as well.

PinkPiano · December 2010

I'm pretty strict. I have very high expectations for my kids. I've been told they are too high at times. I've tried to adjust some of my unrealistic expectations and just be more relaxed in general. Apparently I'm just a *bit* on the tightly wound/control freak side of things though.

emilykristene2006 · December 2010

I think I might be a little too strict. I am working on lightening up, but I feel like I need to be consistent. I guess I am worried about having a brat. Watching my cousins who think they are entitled to everything has ruined me, I think.

belle204 · December 2010

I don't want to label myself as lenient so I'll call it middle-of-the-road. There are things I let go more than others or am more lax about. It really depends on the situation and behavior and I try to address it appropriately. I'm also a pick -your- battles person.

Jodi&Joe · December 2010

I'm very extreme with my level of strictness....meaning I'm WAY strict on certain things and probably WAY lenient with others.

CleoKitty · December 2010

To answer my own question:

Dh and I have very high expectations of the kids: they need to be polite, use manners, treat all people with respect, listen to instructions from adults in charge, have exemplary behavior, treat their toys carefully and keep them picked up, etc. And in general? My kids are honestly amongst some of the most well-behaved kids - it's something that their teachers (and speech therapists, etc.) have repeatedly commented upon. In return they get to enjoy more freedoms than most other kids we personally know.

But if they start to forget their manners, speak rudely, trash their toys, etc? All bets are off and we have pretty much zero tolerance for that kind of stuff.

So I don't know where that puts us- very strict on one hand, more lenient than average on the other hand.

Zenya · December 2010

PinkPiano:

I'm pretty strict. I have very high expectations for my kids. I've been told they are too high at times. I've tried to adjust some of my unrealistic expectations and just be more relaxed in general. Apparently I'm just a *bit* on the tightly wound/control freak side of things though.

That's me. I'm working on it.

katie277s · December 2010

DandelionMom:
Middle of the road. I'm very strict about some things but I really pick my battles. Like I don't care if beds are made but I expect excellent manners.

This.

claytonswife2011 · December 2010

Im pretty strict with some stuff not as bad with others when it comes to food and candy i am very strict

JOEBunny · December 2010

Not strict enough. I should be more strict with DD, but she is super persistent, and I just have to pick my battles.

gracendantho26 · December 2010

I have got it all figured out and dialed in. I'm firm yet loving, I have high expectations but not too high, I am strict but only when appropriate. I am the most perfect disciplinarian alive.

J/K

I am a little overly spazzy on some stuff but on other stuff to lenient..like Jodi&Joe. But I will say this....DD got her computer time today taken away yesterday for being sassy. This morning she got up before me and got she and her brother cereal. They were sitting at the kitchen table nicely and when I walked into the kitchen the first thing she said was "I didn't go on my Webkins this morning because I got my computer time taken away for not listening yesterday." So hey..that's good I think. She could have acted like she forgot that it was taken away but she sucked it up and made the right choice. :oP

AggieCouple · December 2010

I think I'm pretty strict by most American standards, but lenient by Asian standards. I expect a lot from my kids, and frankly, I'm tired of apologizing for it. Both H and I are driven people, we will parent accordingly, and our kids will probably be driven as well.

hikerbeth · December 2010

CleoKitty:

To answer my own question:

Dh and I have very high expectations of the kids: they need to be polite, use manners, treat all people with respect, listen to instructions from adults in charge, have exemplary behavior, treat their toys carefully and keep them picked up, etc. And in general? My kids are honestly amongst some of the most well-behaved kids - it's something that their teachers (and speech therapists, etc.) have repeatedly commented upon. In return they get to enjoy more freedoms than most other kids we personally know.

But if they start to forget their manners, speak rudely, trash their toys, etc? All bets are off and we have pretty much zero tolerance for that kind of stuff.

So I don't know where that puts us- very strict on one hand, more lenient than average on the other hand.

We're exactly like you, Cleo. I have crazy-high expectations of my kids and most often, they rise to meet them.

Cbidt's girl · December 2010

I am strict on some things like mealtimes, being kind to people, and very little tv. But I'm lax about other things - in my mind I don't say "no" or make a rule just for my convenience or because it is what I expect. Example - ds wanted blue pancakes the other day. dH immediately says no, becuase he thinks it is weird and it wasn't what he plannex. I say "why not?". I have food coloring, blueberries and the stuff for pancakes, why can't ds have blue pancakes? Other ways I'm relaxed... We do moonsand, inside, regularly

Carol*Brady · December 2010

I am not sure that I can take that much credit for behavior but they are good, sweet kids & I get complimented on it often by adults who spends time w/ them (babysitters, playdates, friend's moms, classroom volunteers, teachers, etc). If they weren't I would probably crack down on that. I am most strict on is how they treat each other...that stems from my brother's torturing me as a kid. I am lenient on most other things--eating, tv, toys, routines, etc...

esposa38 · December 2010

I'd day I'm pretty middle of the road to lenient, like I try to say yes more than i say no, I try to let the little stuff go, and I keep the rules to stuff that fits under the "keep you safe, keep other people safe, and keep our things safe" umbrella. But when I do make a rule or put a stop to a behavior, no joke. That's it. So I guess in that sense, I am on the stricter side. Eta, also, i expect nice manners. That's a biggie.

Jermysgirl · December 2010

We're pretty strict. One of my friends says I'm much too strict and bordering on mean. And maybe I am, but my daughter listens to me and does what I ask her to do, and my friend's son doesn't ever listen to her.

He listens to me though

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