Are you a MEAN MOM? Mine was and ...

[JunieJay]

I totally agree. My mom crossed over into cruel.

But I think the word "mean" is really tongue in cheek for the way the kids feel about us when we have to say no to something. I've had DD tell me I'm mean, but then I'll say, "How sad, am I really mean?" and she'll think about it and say no.

Well the lady across the street wasn't cruel. She was just strict, to the point where her daughter couldn't live her life, she was living her mother's life. That is what I mean by saying mean can walk a fine line. Its finding that delicate balance of rearing your children with your values but pushing them to be their own person and make decisions for themselves.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I guess I'n the oddball. I didn't have a mean mom (she wasn't lenient or strict, actually, but somewhere in the middle) and I'm not a mean mom either (ditto my mom). The lady across the street was a mean mom and her daughter ended up pregnant at 16. She never let that girl breathe and as a result, she rebelled. I think "mean" has a fine line........

It sounds like the lady across the street was a crazy mom.

To me a mean mom is a mom who allows her children to do normal kid/teen stuff. However, there are rules in places.

My mean mom didn't allow us to date until 16.
We didn't wear makeup until we were 16. (I don't think there's anything wrong with wearing makeup before 16, this was just the rule in our house.)
Boys couldn't call our house all hours of the night.
Boys were not allowed in our bedrooms.
We had a curfew.
We had to keep our grades up.
We had to respect adults.
We had to do chores around the house.

 

[jbmom]

Yes, I had a mean mom. I am a mean mom and darn proud of it. Just ask my boys. Can't wait till we get to the teenage years!

 

[Kath2003]

I had a lovingly mean mom but a STRICT mean dad.

Problem is, Mum's now realised I'm 22. Dad's still having a few issues with that one

 

[slo]

My mom and my Grandma were "mean moms" and God bless them for being that way, because I am so happy with who I am now because of them I could never thank them enough!!!!!


I now would be considered a "mean mom" to my children. My DD has even told me that I'm mean. But I'm trying to keep a thick skin, because I know she will thank me for it someday, just like I thank my mom

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I am a mean mom.... and my teenage sons and all of their (male and female friends) love to hang out at our house!!

They are supervised, provided food and non-alcoholic drinks, and we have a big screen TV. But they all know that they go by the house rules, or they leave.

Works for us!