Copying Your Parent's Parenting Style, is it Good?

They say that parents are the children’s model so what usually happens is that even the parenting styles of parents are often copied by the children.  As for me I wish I could copy the parenting styles of my parents but given that children of today are different and the fact that I am single and busy, situations are different.

My parents who were both very patient and understanding raised us properly and sent us to school.  Although my mother did not go to school as was the custom in my hometown in those early times, she knew that education was very important given that she knew how it is to be unschooled.  I consider my mother the best mother I could think of.  She was always there for us and just imagine rearing 10 children.  So that was already something.  I often wonder how we were raised by my parents but then again the simple life before is far different from life in the computer age where children are as complicated to handle as the computer.

My mother used to give us just a simple stern look which was enough to make us behave.  My father was an ever understanding and patient father to us who never punished us but he talked to us and explained to us the consequences of what we do should we insisted on doing what was wrong.  He was a man who didn’t use the belt or the stick to teach his children.

We grew up not fearing our parents but respecting them.  I wish I had copied my parent’s parenting style but then again my situation is different because I am a single parent and in keeping with my belief that I have to give everything to my son it was too late before I realized that parenting is not giving all but giving choices and setting limits.  I had experienced the pain of being misunderstood by my son when I was not able to provide him what he wanted.  I thought perhaps that it was my fault because I didn’t rear him properly.  The mistakes I made as a single parent was a learning tool for me so I finally realized that as a parent you should hold the reigns of the horse properly, not so tight that you are going to hurt your hand but not too loose because the horse will get away.

I missed the point of effective parenting and I pampered my son.  But then I am so thankful because he has finally matured and things are different now.  My son has outgrown his being immature and has finally realized that life is not all about getting and having fun but he knew that he has responsibilities too that he must accomplish especially because he is still in college pursuing his studies.

Perhaps I had my flaws too as a parent but I had not wished for the bad part to happen.  Anyway I am happy now that my son has finally matured and things have changed between us.

Parenting is a serious responsibility and commitment.  It is not about your feelings as a parent but it is what life is all about.  If you love your kids and care about them, you should not give everything to them to the point that they will be spoiled.  Giving them choices and setting limits is a better option even if you can afford to give them everything they want.

Parenting is not all about what you can afford to give to your children but it is about what you can teach your kids about life.  This is because the children should see what life is all about so that they will become responsible in the future.