Are you a good parent?

[Tigger&Belle]

What does it mean to be a "good" parent? Seems that people are forever debating their choices in how they raise their kids, often judging others.

So are you a good parent? In what ways are you good and not so good?

Do you pass judgement on others based on their choices?

 

[isyne4u]

I don't know if i'm good or not...I dropped my kicking and screaming kid off at school and told the school to deal with it!!

I've learned not to judge other parenting styles unless it requires me to call CPS!

When my kids are grown I'll ask them!!

 

[vegasnative]

I'm a good parent, my kids go to bed at 8, occasionally they get to stay up late 8:30-9.
I'm a bad parent, every now and then they get to have a soda with dinner.
I guess the moral of the story is what "we" feel is good. Some will disagree with my soda allowance, yet I don't think young kids should stay up until midnight, I'm a firm believer of routines with young children...but we are all different. I suppose what is really important is that the children are loved and cared for, enough so that they feel comfortable. We also need to remember how innocent they are, and try to keep them as innocent for as long as possible, so that would mean not exposing them to things children need not be exposed to.

 

[sugarpie]

Some days I think I'm the worst parent ever.

Most days I think I'm doing an OK job. I know my children know I love them, no matter what. I never felt that when I was growing up, so that's really important to me.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

If being a good parent means always making the right choices and knowing exactly what to do, then I've failed.

On the other hand, if being a good parent is measured by how much you love your children, then I must be a great one.

 

[mommasita]

I don't know what "good" is...

My thoughts..

I parent with my heart. I adore my children, and will do anything for them. That includes denying them plenty, and teaching them right from wrong..

I don't feel I am tough, or strict. THey know the rules, and rarely break them..

I can admit when I am wrong, and do so willingly to them. I explain that Mom's make mistakes also, and there is no book to being a Mom..

I am a product of child abuse. Physical that would be. I take the extreme opposite on this, and it works for me. I would never hit my children anywhere. And quite honestly have never found a reason for it..

I learn from my kids, and they hopefully learn from me...

I don't judge any parents, it is not an easy job, and different at every address.

 

[mickeyboat]

Some days I would answer yes. Some days I would answer no. I think my kids are turning out well, but I think genes have a lot to say about that, it isn't always my perfect parenting skills.

I am not sure really how to measure who is a good parent and who isn't. Do we measure by how our kids turn out? How the kids rate us when they are adults? How other people perceive our parenting? There is no one right answer on how to parent, so I am not sure there really is a good measuring stick. I think almost all of us are trying our best to be good parents. And almost no one would admit they are not a good parent.

I don't really judge anyone about their parenting choices. Different things work for different people, and I think the DIS has taught me a lot about that. I was at the dentist this morning, and while the hygenist was cleaning my teeth, she was ranting and raving about family beds and breastfeeding a three year old. I just told her it wasn't my choice to do it that way, but I was fine with it as long as it doesn't affect me, and it is something that works for them.

Denae

 

[Steffi]

I often feel like everyone else got the parenting manual except me. But I have gotten better over the years, learning from my mistakes.

I could be a better disciplinarian. I could be more patient. I could hover less.

But I'm a good parent in that I always put my DD first and I'm unselfish. I work hard at maintaining a loving, communicative relationship with my DD.

I don't judge other people's parenting. It's tough going; nobody's perfect and I believe parenting is a lot of trial by error. I wouldn't dream of judging someone who is truly trying their best to raise decent young people!

 

[PlutosFriend]

My almost 7 year old dd doesn't think so. She says I am mean, and often threatens to run away! Does that mean I am doing a good job?

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

My almost 7 year old dd doesn't think so. She says I am mean, and often threatens to run away! Does that mean I am doing a good job?

 

[Caropooh]

Well, I'm the parent of a DD13 who claims to "hate all of you" and also claims "you love me, yah, right" so in her eyes, I'm guessing not. But if you ask some of my friends, they say I am. So I guess I go either way!

 

[pperfectmom]

If being a good parent means always making the right choices and knowing exactly what to do, then I've failed.

On the other hand, if being a good parent is measured by how much you love your children, then I must be a great one.

Well said. It brought tears to my eyes. Also I love the line in your siggy. I may have to borrow that one some time.

 

[kimmikayb]

What does it mean to be a "good" parent? Seems that people are forever debating their choices in how they raise their kids, often judging others.

So are you a good parent? In what ways are you good and not so good?

Do you pass judgement on others based on their choices?

I'm not sure if I am or not. I'd like to think I'm a good parent. I like to have fun with my kids. But I also know I am their parent and not their friend. I am laid back, but still insist on respect. We are a larger family (4 kids) and I expect everyone to pitch in. My DS4 is a handful and I'm going through things with him I never did with the other 3....so it makes me question my parenting.

I also like to continue learning and I know sometimes my way isn't always the right way. I make mistakes but I try to learn from those mistakes. Right now I'm taking a Building Successful Youth parenting class. It's really good.

I try not to pass judgement on other parents but I do in the case of abuse or neglect.

Do you think you are a good parent?

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I'd like to think that I am, but I know that there are days when I've definitely fallen short. I guess I'll have to see how they turn out in a few years!

 

[L107ANGEL]

According to the oldest no, terrible parent and person. According to the youngest, I am still doing ok

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'm not sure if I am or not. I'd like to think I'm a good parent. I like to have fun with my kids. But I also know I am their parent and not their friend. I am laid back, but still insist on respect. We are a larger family (4 kids) and I expect everyone to pitch in. My DS4 is a handful and I'm going through things with him I never did with the other 3....so it makes me question my parenting.

My 4th child, now 7yo, has made me question more of my parenting choices than all 3 of my other kids put together. To say that he's been a challenge would be a big understatement.

 

[PlutosFriend]

I'm not sure if I am or not. I'd like to think I'm a good parent. I like to have fun with my kids. But I also know I am their parent and not their friend. I am laid back, but still insist on respect. We are a larger family (4 kids) and I expect everyone to pitch in. My DS4 is a handful and I'm going through things with him I never did with the other 3....so it makes me question my parenting.

This is how it is with my DD7. When I ask her to clean her room or help in other ways, she is so difficult I know I need a new tecnique in this area. Also, does anyone have any good ideas on how to make kids be more appreciative or know how good they have it?

 

[LindaM]

Ask me this question 6 years ago, I would have said no as my kids were going through the terribile two's teenage style Now that my dd is almost 19, she tells me quite often how lucky her and her brother were to have parents like dh & I

 

[disykat]

Hmm - according to a post last night if I infer that I am a good parent by the choices I make, then that could mean I'm inferring that people who parent differently than me are bad parents. So that must mean that anyone who thinks they make good parenting choices is being "judgemental" of other parents.

There's no winning on this one!

 

[Blondy876]

My dh and I are the very best parents our two daughters could have.

Do I judge other parents, yes. Not for basic differences in parenting style but for being blatantly harmful to their child/ren.