By Megen Hibbins
As a new parent, we look forward to raising our children our way, but how much of you is there in your parenting style?
When I had my first child 20 years ago, I had an idea that I wanted to raise him in a free-range hippy style of life. Meaning simply that I really would engage in loads of love and patience in my parenting philosophy. As time went on, I had everyone from teachers, my parents, other parents, and of course the ever-the-expert on parenting – the person without children, telling me what I was doing and how I should behave as a mother.
I took what they said very seriously. After all, I was young and must not know anything, and they have lived life so they must be correct. As I gave up climbing trees and swinging on swings, I began to feel disheartened and really not liking the whole motherhood thing.
It took many years before I started to rebel against the “standard” parenting philosophy and started to parent my way. Firstly, I had to start to discount what others had told me and accept that they weren’t all correct.
The act of rebellion took a lot of guts to achieve and my son was eight years old before I really started to appreciate myself as a mother in my own right.
It took many years before I started to rebel against the “standard” parenting philosophy and started to parent my way. Firstly, I had to start to discount what others had told me and accept that they weren’t all correct.
As I broke away from the “normal” way of thinking and starting parenting in a more natural, nurturing way, I began to wonder how many people are really game enough to tell people, especially their own parents, that they feel that their way of parenting would be better for their children? How many of us can really break away from what others believe is right?
Many people feel that if a person has different ideas on parenting, then it is wrong. Worse still, is that people believe that the old way of parenting (smacking, obedience, silence) is the best form of parenting. Is it the best form?
People, in general, are astounded that we don’t smack our children and work on the communication method of parenting. Generally speaking, we have little problem with our children’s behavior. This isn’t to say that we don’t have our days and that our children are perfect.
Love the philosophy that you’ve adopted into your parenting style. It makes so much more logical sense to me than the more traditional/old school style.
Can’t believe The Wiggles are still a thing haha