Wednesday 11 April 2018

Being a strict parent. Am I one?

When I was a teenager I thought my parents were strict....I hated them for being that way but now I respect them for it....They were just looking out for me. I am sure if you asked my girls they would say I am strict and I hope when they are older they will understand that I am only looking out for them too...


I would rather be called a strict parent then be one who lets their children do whatever they want, whenever they want and then end up getting into trouble or getting behind with school work....

When I was a teen I had to be in before dark but all my friends were allowed to stay out much later.....I hated that rule but now I am the same with my girls.....They have to be in before dark. I think it's the age we live in now. If I have to go out alone after dark and I don't feel safe....

I was a mean mam and I wouldn't let my teen Becky have any sort of social media before her 13th birthday....Becky is 15 now and isn't really bothered with it....She has all the accounts but rarely uses them. Well apart from YouTube. She watches videos on there everyday. I do keep an eye on what she watches and she is quite sensible. The girls love being involved with my blog, making YouTube videos with me and that is enough for them.....

When I was a teen my brother and I had a set list of chores around the house to do....Hoovering, washing dishes, walking the dogs, cleaning our rooms and I make my girls do chores too. All they have to do is tidy their rooms once a week, put their belongings away and wash and dry the dishes which I don't think is too bad.....If they want to earn extra time on electronics or extra pocket money they can do more jobs....

I wasn't allowed a TV in my bedroom until I bought one myself when I was younger....It wasn't the done thing to have TV's in bedrooms 30 years ago. My girls have TV's in their bedrooms and they are switched off at 9pm on school night for Ellie and 10.30pm for Becky. 

I do turn into a strict parent on school days.....

Breakfast has to be eaten, I won't let the girls leave for school on an empty stomach. It's not easy when Ellie my youngest hates eating breakfast. I have actually made her late for school as I wouldn't let her leave the house until she had eaten something....

Teeth have to be brushed...I don't care if they are running late....No phones, TV or anything electronic until they are ready for school....That includes having shoes on, bags and coats ready to be put on.....

When the girls get in from school homework has to be done straight away, Ellie has to read and they have to get changed out of their uniform.

My parents both smoked and drank.....They were always dead against my brother and I smoking and drinking. My mother wouldn't even let us drink shandy or eat the candy cigarettes and I think that's why my brother and I did when we were in our teenage years.....My girls have heart defects and know what damage smoking and drinking can do to their hearts. Ellie is against alcohol. She is fine with me drinking it but never wants to drink it herself. Over Christmas I got some fancy pop that came in a wine looking bottle and she wouldn't drink it simply because it looked like a wine bottle....Becky has asked for a taste of some of different alcoholic drinks I have drank over the last couple of years and I have let her have a sip which usually results in her pulling a face and saying yuck!

I don't think I am an overly strict parent but I have my rules...

Did you have strict parents? Are you one now?


6 comments :

  1. My parents were strict with me and I am strict with my daughter. I think that giving children familiar boundaries helps them to become more independent and understand that things have to be done in a certain way - like getting ready for school, you have to be ready before you do anything else. Children will try and push boundaries but I think that ultimately boundaries help them to feel more secure :o)

    #MMBC

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  2. You sound quite similar to me. I don't think I am overly strict (though my kids would probably disagree lol) and I have rules that they actually seem to follow most of the time. Though at nearly 16 I STILL have to nag my son to brush his teeth x

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  3. My mum was quite strict I think with us 4 girls. However I don't think I am overly strict. My daughter and I have a different relationship with it just being the 2 of us at home for so long. However she knows my boundaries and she too isn't allowed social media yet (she's 12), has only just gotten a tv for her bedroom and is totally against alcohol and smoking so far! Sounds like you're doing a great job #pocolo

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  4. My paremts.were the same. I'm the same as you with school. Teeth and nahs sorted and no tv etc unless they have spare time. I didn't have a tv until I was 16. My kids won't either and they won't have Facebook etc until the right age. Midge is 10 and has Instagram which I have control of she likes sharing her photos and editing.

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  5. I was a strict parent. I remember what somebody had told me and that I was "No was the best word you can always use because you can change a no into yes but you can't change a yes into a no." Just something I believed in. #PoCoLo

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  6. I think I have changed throughout the years, I use to be very strict at first but now with my little one (my 3rd child) I am a lot more relax, maybe I will regret it when he is older!

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