Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The good, the bad and the ugly

As soon as you hear your baby cry when it comes into this world, you realize how big your responsibility has become. All of a sudden, your life as husband and wife has changed into the life of a mom and a dad. This little person you have created, needs guidance and lots of love. It needs to be nurtured and raised. Us parents need to find our way in parenting, working out a plan on how to raise the kids the best way possible. Children are never alike, so the theory doesn't always match the practical side. We all have our own opinion on how to guide a child. Finding a balance isn't always easy. Who's right and who's wrong? Are you allowed to make mistakes as parents? Can you tell your child your way of raising wasn't the best way? Can you start over?

Finding your new role as a parent, you often end up with stereotypes: there's the "good" parent and there's the "bad" parent. There's the parent with the firm hand and rules that need to be followed and then there's the soft parent who believes rules can be broken along the line. Who's right and who's wrong? Is there a right way and wrong way? I don't know. Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle?

I like to be consequent in what I say. Our children know that. They know once I've made up my mind, I won't change it that easily. I truly believe children need structure and rules. That doesn't mean they aren't able to breathe or have fun or go out with their friends, by no means. It means they are still children and we are still their parents and there are simple rules that need to be obeyed. If you want privileges, there are tasks to be completed as well. Education can't be a one way direction. No matter what age your children are, there are always certain rules that need to be followed. If that means I need to be the bad parent, so be it. Someone has to bite the bullet. If only bad doesn't turn in to ugly..

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