Parenting in 2012

In the year of 2012, adults parent their children in many different ways. Some parents are very strict with their kids and limit them to what they can do, while others do not have a care in the world. I feel that their should be a middle ground when it comes to parenting. I believe that children should be disciplined, but at the same time, they should have some type of freedom. I have always thought that if you are disciplined and guided by your parents in life, then you will be successful when you get older. On the other hand, if you do not have parents or other people guiding and supporting you, you will have a harder time becoming successful in life. These type of kids may or may not, but I believe may be steered in the wrong direction. My parents have done a good job at raising me so far in my life, and I think this is because they show disciplinary action, but at the same time they give me some types of freedom. Both my parents tell me right from wrong, but they cannot control what I do in my life. My mom and dad have warned me about many things that I have and will face in life, but I feel that I have made the right decisions in life because of their guidance and support. Just because my mom and dad parent me a certain way, does not mean all parents do the same thing. Some of my older cousins parent my younger cousins differently. When my extended family gets together for the holidays, anyone is able to tell that we are being raised in a different manner than each other. For example, when my brother and I are messing around with each other, we can only go so far. Once my mom tells us to stop, that is the end of it, period. But, when my cousins bother each other it is completely different. Their parents will tell them to stop, but they do not feel that they need to listen to their parents. This really shows how our parents discipline us differently. One day when I become a parent, I plan on parenting my kids the way my mom and dad have parented me. I feel that it is very effective, and my children will have respect for me. They will not take advantage of me, but at the same time they will not be afraid of me. I want them to be able to talk to me about anything. I will try to point my kids in a certain direction when they are young, but if they choose not to do it when they get older, it will be okay with me. For example, when I become a parent I will probably want my kids to play lacrosse like I do, but if they choose to play soccer or basketball instead it will be fine with me. I will also have ground rules for me kids that they will have to follow. For example, one rule will be not breaking curfew. In conclusion, I believe that parenting in 2012 is different for every family, but has a big impact on the future of those children