I agree with the PP that more and more anyone with a different approach is labeled a bad parent (or nuts, psycho, crazy or some other insult). It is sad. Every family and every child is different and it would be so nice if we could support each other instead of dragging each otehr down (I guess there is no fun in that).
I have been a bad parent by DIS standards a couple of times over this week alone (and it's, what? Tuesday
):
My kids have been allowed to stay home alone since age 8
DS goes to sleep away camp every summer and DD even went this summer (2 weeks)
the kids have pocket knives
DD has been babysitting since she turned 10
the kids have a laptop and can use it in their own rooms. They are allowed to use google and
youtube
I breastfed both kids in public and never covered with a blanket (but did not expose much--people often thought they were napping in my arms and had no idea)
the kids come home from school, go to the library, run to the grocery store, etc. on their own on foot, bike and tram. They even came home from summer camp on the trian alone (5 hour ride).
DS is allowed to paint his nails when he feels like it (so is DD, but that apparently does not make me a bad parent)
I did not put shoes on my babies before they could walk and socks only on my son (DD hated things on her feet) and only if it was chilly
DD wears bikinis
we used to homeschool
the kids have had cell phones since they were about 5 and 7 (may have been 6 and 8) and shared one before that
There are many R rated movies I let my kids watch (and quite a few PG and PG-13 I do not let them watch)
There is plenty more I am sure--these are just the things I think I recall having come up on the DIS at some point
. Yeah, I am one!!
