Recent questions tagged parenting

Description : Is my son's behavior suspicious?

Last Answer : No. I don't agree. According to this post your son has bipolar disorder and anger anxiety/related issues. His behavior is likely symptomatic of his condition - Not suspicious of whatever else you imagine ... person and keep calling him out . It just makes me wonder who's obsessing about what.

Description : Why would anyone say such a thing? (See details)

Last Answer : Maybe your son does know the person.

Description : How to deal with my parents?

Last Answer : Not sure of the societal standards where you are from. But at 25, it is time to stand up to your father. When he comes to your house to harangue you, send him on his way. When he wants to tell you ... , but wouldn't get demanding or angry if they didn't take it. It is their lives to lead not mine.

Description : Why do we call sending a child to his/her room as "grounded" ?

Last Answer : It was originally a piloting term that got borrowed by parents. When pilots aren't allowed to fly for some reason-including bad behavior-they are said to be grounded (since they are stuck on the ... want, the term got applied in that context as well (originally as slang, but then it stuck).

Description : Can a parent hire a babysitter or nanny for 18 years?

Last Answer : I figure some rich people probably do.

Description : How do you teach someone that they shouldn’t lie?

Last Answer : You point to our President as the model for what can be achieved through telling the truth.

Description : Why do some dads act like their daughters are their sweethearts?

Last Answer : I can understand your discomfort. I guess it depends on how this parent’s generation were raised, it was a different time back then. It can also be a factor of the daughter’s own behavior and personality, some girls are tomboys so they require a more normal treatment.

Description : As a child, when you were crying, did your parents ever threaten you with violence to make you stop?

Last Answer : No. That sort of threat was usually reserved for inappropriate mirth.

Description : If your father, or in some cases, mother hit you or abused you emotionally or sexually, how have you resolved/accepted/put it behind you?

Last Answer : I have never entirely gotten over it. It is a life-long curse.

Description : Are women more caring than men?

Last Answer : Penguins and other birds, certain animals, seahorses share the burden. Human females carry the baby for nine months giving birth to a helpless baby, who remain that way til, well, 30 sometimes. I ... d say girls and women are usually the more caring, reliable and nurturing of our fucked-up species.

Description : When did you move out of your parents or caregivers home?

Last Answer : 1966

Description : What do you think about this punishment (details inside)?

Last Answer : Good for dad!

Description : Did you grow up with both biological parents?

Last Answer : Yes

Description : Current or Former Parents of Teenagers — What is/was your most effective coping mechanisms?

Last Answer : We, my wife and I, found it best to disconnect when things got too emotionally charged. We would tag team with each other. When one got to worked up, we would self-impose a time out and the ... be fought over another day. Having someone at your side who is still being rational is such a blessing.

Description : What is the difference between empowering and enabling?

Last Answer : Empowering enables the positive. Enabling enables the negative.

Description : Did your parents support you, believe in you?

Last Answer : No. They disowned me when I was 17. No loss. I disowned them at the same time!

Description : Would you rather be super busy and have more money for your family or just get by and have a lot of time with your family?

Last Answer : I’m a single mom with no family other than my 12 year old son. I need a balance. I work long hours when I have work and I just get by. I am used to busy. Would like a better paying job.

Description : What are the best activities to do with a 9 year old that don't cost a lot of money?

Last Answer : You could let him help bake cookies, color and/or paint with him (if they still do that these days), put potting soil in egg cartons and plant seeds to put out later , color Easter eggs.

Description : Are you (or were your parents) (or would you be) a free range parent or a helicopter parent, or somewhere in between?

Last Answer : answer:I have been a 0 as a parent. I never objected to my kids going where they wanted, as long as I knew where they were. It was a dynamic tension between trusting them and letting ... ; they would never allow their sons to be in the same circumstance. I thought they were overly fastidious.

Description : My 12 year old daughter keeps saying she's ugly. What can I do to help?

Last Answer : Your daughter strikes me as a compassionate and intelligent young woman. I think encouraging her to value attributes other than her looks would be a good plan. Can you get her involved in any ... herself for reasons beyond her prettiness is something that will be helpful to her across her life.

Description : Would you tell your 4 year old if you had a miscarriage?

Last Answer : answer:If the 4 year old already was expecting a sibling, and the 4 year old was asking about the baby, I think I would have to say something. What's her plan? To get pregnant again and hope her son just ... so it makes some sense to him. I'd also not tell my son I was preggers until about month 6.

Description : Is there anything you wish your parents did differently raising you?

Last Answer : answer:As flawed as my father was and as toxic as my mother became, really nothing. They were who they were and I can't really fault them for that. If I had to say one thing, I wish they ... but the lying, emotional manipulation, anger issues, drugs, and all around drama I've made peace with. Weird.

Description : Where did you learn to lie?

Last Answer : It came naturally, a defense mechanism to “cover” my flaws and inabilities. However, there are different types of lies and it’s the big whoppers I avoid. @RedDeerGuy1 sounds like there’s a lot of pain in there. Try to rise above it, just let bygones be bygones and move on.

Description : What are your thoughts on "helicopter parenting" vs "free-range parenting"?

Last Answer : I think a combination of both is good at an early age. A balance of both never hurt anyone when used correctly.

Description : Why is everyone immediately blaming the child's mother?

Last Answer : Oh, Dutchess…

Description : Should people have to prove they're qualified to raise kids before reproducing?

Last Answer : I didn't read all your details but I do agree with you people should prove they are at least somewhat capable of raising children before they have them. Because we all know making the kids is the fun ... to have children and the older I get the more happy I become knowing we made the right choice.

Description : How to be a successful stay at home dad?

Last Answer : answer:Those skills (driving, housekeeping) are not skills specific to a stay at home dad, but are skills everyone ought to learn (although driving is not necessary if you live in a city like ... when my daughter was in Girl Scouts, I was the parent that accompanied her on mother daughter events.

Description : Which is easier to raise a son or daughter?

Last Answer : There is no answer here, way too many variables, every parent & child is different. I have a son & a daughter & both were & still are a delight to bring up, i’d only say that any future boyfriend of my daughter better be prepared for daddy’s scrutiny.

Description : How to punish a teen for constantly missing her curfew?

Last Answer : answer:Take her phone away. Take away her access to the car. Cut her allowance. Whatever you do, do not focus on the boyfriend or say behavior has changed because of him. Focus on her behavior and ... to be good kids? Is it negotiable at all? Have you asked her what her punishment should be?

Description : How do I, as a straight parent, help my teen through a gender identity crisis?

Last Answer : answer:With love and total acceptance of where they are at. Any qualms you have, keep to yourself. And do a lot of reading - there are excellent books and online resources out there. PFLAG is a ... of gay and lesbian and transgender kids. You can look them up online as a place to start reading.

Description : How do I avoid medication for depression or therapy that may be used against me to take my child away?

Last Answer : Could the therapy be held against you if it was caused by abuse? What if you approached it as family therapy? Both you and your son? You are both victims in this and I would think that ... therapy would be both good for you and an example of good parenting after the traumatic experience of abuse.

Description : If a mother is told to cut the cord from her adult disabled child then what? Should she abandon her adult son or still help out?

Last Answer : She could say “mind your business. ”

Description : What damage to your self occurs when you see a parent as a BFF?

Last Answer : If your parent is helpful to you but not too controlling, then it’s beneficial. Hopefully she offers guidance to you as you make your way through life.

Description : What are some funny parent tricks (details inside ?

Last Answer : I kept candy hidden from the kids by putting it in the vegetable bin in the fridge for yyears.

Description : When do you bluff or outright lie?

Last Answer : answer:I don’t lie.* * Note: There is one exception that is borderline because it is not entirely truthful: the santa claus question, which I dealt with on a recent thread. I don’t tell the kids that Santa is real, but I am complicit in some level of playing up the myth.

Description : Is leaving the parents permanently and never looking back a perfect way to get over the wrong behavior they imposed on you when you were a kid?

Last Answer : Wing clipping is not allowed. Ignore for a while and live your life if they make you feel bad and deflate your self worth. Actively seek out groups that help with negative self talk because even if you ... them again it will be easier to take their negative nature's. Like water off a ducks back.

Description : Do you think always being a negative speaker will actually make the things worse or is it not so?

Last Answer : answer:I think neither always nagging nor always praising is good. Constant nagging destroys one’s confidence and detemination, and constant praising makes one judge themselves too high. You need a combination of both. You have to point out their mistakes while appreciating their effort.

Description : Man catches a 14 year old trying to steal his wallet and disciplines him with a whoopin. Right or wrong?

Last Answer : All kinds of wrong

Description : Do you believe that this is good parenting?

Last Answer : Mom says she is a little soft lately. A taxidermist could take care of that.

Description : When someone says single parent, specifically unwed moms raising their children, what pops into your head?

Last Answer : answer:If you had said child I would have thought of a teenager raising her result of a wild night. But you said children , so I think of either a divorced mother or a woman having ... them properly despite being looked down on by the whole society. They both deserve more than what they have.

Description : Are you in a blended family, how do you view the kids?

Last Answer : answer:It depends on when one enters their lives. A new dad moving in with mom when the child is 7 or under, can integrate so that the step parent becomes a fully accepted parent. Older than that it ... ), and the kids accept us as a couple, but neither of us are stepping into a parental role.

Description : So, what are your thoughts on the "Mom of the year," in Baltimore?

Last Answer : Just saying, that kind of punishment didn’t prevent her offspring from trying to pillage the village.

Description : If you can't rely on them telling you, how do you know what people want?

Last Answer : answer:I wouldn't say anything. I understand your concern, but most likely she very much enjoys time with you. When the right opportunity comes up you can reassure her that she ... in adult relationships, assumptions of this kind and miscommunication are the source of discord and discontent.

Description : When you were a child, did you have any favourite family rituals?

Last Answer : answer:Every Thanksgiving at my grandparents, we would all gather in the basement after the meal and have dessert. We'd set up their slide projector and all look at old family photos while eating ... looking for more daily family rituals/parenting stuff. I guess I have my grandmother on my mind.

Description : What to make of Jeff Goldblum?

Last Answer : Lucky man… I’m 37 and no children.

Description : If a child did something deliberately awful to you, and the parents were light or even skipped punishment, what would you do?

Last Answer : answer:First of all, big difference between the two scenarios. If the kid broke or stole something, the parents don't get to shrug it off, they have to pay to fix or replace it ... things right the parents would need to apologize and also demonstrate that the child was appropriately disciplined.

Description : Wife and Mother in Law believe in spanking while I'm 100% against it, how do I deal with this?

Last Answer : Just my opinion, but a lot of it depends on the personality of the child. Some kids simply don’t respond to spanking. I had one.

Description : Do you think a parent should be able to shut off their kids' cell phones remotely? (see details)

Last Answer : answer:If your child is allowing you to pay for their phone, and you have the option of shutting the phone down if they don’t respond to your inquiries, then you should feel free to do so. A child using a phone that you are paying for is a dependent, and subject to your rules.

Description : What do you think of this case, where a 200 pound 3rd grader was placed in foster care because (the state said) the mother wasn't doing enough to control his weight?

Last Answer : The state has a point. The question is whether the kid can be predicted to fare better when thrown to the whims of he state. When does the need for clinical intervention overtake the nurturing of a loving parent?

Description : Why is having your own flesh and blood children, so important?

Last Answer : Because my genes are so pure and noble, and commoners would never understand.~ Pfft. My gene pool is a cesspool. Why would I want to pass that on?