Growing up, did you have lenient parents?

[Michelle67]

I had one of each. My mother was pretty lenient---mostly too busy doing her own thing to worry too much about us as long as we were reasonably safe. Although as others have mentioned, the perception of what was "safe" was pretty different then.

My dad was career military. "Lenient" was not in his vocabulary. He wasn't mean or cruel, but he didn't mess around either. Curfews were not optional or approximate; every minute late led to further consequences. He lectured every single boyfriend on his definition of "on time" and invited them to set their watches to his on a date-by-date basis.

 

[imabrat]

My parents are pretty lenient. It really depends on the topic. I turned 16 2 weeks ago and I celebrated by getting a tattoo. My dad was originally against it but when I told him it was a gold ribbon for childhood cancer (an issue very near and dear to me) they said it was okay.

If I were to start doing drugs or drinking alcohol, you bet they'd be all over my rear. I'm not interested in that stuff, but if I did I know my mom would ground me for life.

They don't push me to do my best in school (I'm actually pretty anal about that on my own), I rarely am grounded. I'm old enough to keep track of myself and my stuff. The only thing my mom still yells at for is for keeping a messy room, I'm reminded billions of times a day to clean my room.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My mom was lenient and my dad didn't notice me unless I was on his couch when he came home from the bar, and then he would kick me out of the house for the night. I had to start working at 14 and if I wanted to do something I walked or hitched a ride. Funny though we never really wanted for much. We had guidelines, but we were always the first family to have stuff, like VCR's, etc... We did absolutely nothing as a family!

I am semi-strict with my children, but totally emphasize family time and traditions. The more they prove themselves, the more privledges they get. I have never had to ground either of my kids. The only hard thing is explaining why I got to do stuff at their age and they can't!

 

[pyrxtc]

I spent most of my life grounded but never drank, did drugs or broke curfew so you figure that one out.

 

[castleview]

Maybe it's a generational thing, DH is 47, and, when we watch "That 70s Show" with DS, DS always says, "Daddy was like Hyde!" DH's parents, when he was a teen in the late 70s, had NO idea where he was, what he was doing, basically as long as the police didn't call, and he showed up for holidays, all was cool. He and his friends would sleep overnight out in the woods, ride their bikes for miles on end, and do other things I won't mention on a family friendly board. He turned out okay, but I'm sure his parents think we're wayyyy to strict with their grandson/our DS. Earth to grandparents: it's not the 70s anymore

Terri

I LOVE that show although my Dad was more like Red. My dad was a HS principal and at his retirement, we talked about how he pioneered the zero tolerance household which led to schools adapting it. He was also working on the No Child Left Unpunished Act