Communication

Communication is rough, lemme tell ya!

With each year that goes by, we are having a harder time learning to communicate in person. It's so easy to talk over texting or facebook, you can basically be anyone you want! You can control your reactions, or your insanely creepy sounding giggles (If you're anything like me).

I wonder how that's going to affect us with each generation. I wonder if my kids are going to have a hard time making friends at school, being their true selves on and offline, and someday meeting their eternal companion. 

Marriage and Junk Like That.

Well. The thought of marriage brings up a lot of questions. Different questions for everyone, of course. Some people worry about where they'll live, how much money they'll make, how many kids they'll have. Those are all fantastic questions. I, however; am approaching it at a different angle. WHAT will I marry? Cat? Human? Will cat marriage even be legal by then? If not, what are my other options?
Just kidding.
Marriage is a good thing. Quite simple too. You should be happy. If not, reevaluate things.

Permissive and uninvolved parenting

Permissive Parenting: Permissive parents, sometimes referred to as indulgent parents, have very few demands to make of their children. These parents rarely discipline their children because they have relatively low expectations of maturity and self-control. According to Baumrind, permissive parents "are more responsive than they are demanding. They are nontraditional and lenient, do not require mature behavior, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation". Permissive parents are generally nurturing and communicative with their children, often taking on the status of a friend more than that of a parent.

And the last one...

Uninvolved parenting: An uninvolved parenting style is characterized by few demands, low responsiveness and little communication. While these parents fulfill the child's basic needs, they are generally detached from their child's life. In extreme cases, these parents may even reject or neglect the needs of their children.

These two parenting techniques are the most dangerous and have the most negative effect on children. They both involve lack of discipline, and uninvolved parenting often involves negle

Authoritative parenting

Authoritative parenting: Like authoritarian parents, those with an authoritative parenting style establish rules and guidelines that their children are expected to follow. However, this parenting style is much more democratic. Authoritative parents are responsive to their children and willing to listen to questions. When children fail to meet the expectations, these parents are more nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. Baumrind suggests that these parents "monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative" 

This is my favorite parenting style. It’s so fair and simple. Children need to know why they’re being punished. They need to know they’re heard or they’ll never know how to speak up in the real world. 

This is how my parents raised me and this is how I hope to raise my children. 

Parenting skills

I would like to take some time in the next few weeks to learn more about parenting techniques and styles. I think it’s the most important thing we’ve talked about so far in this class. How we raise our children matters so much in every way. 

Authoritarian Parenting: In this style of parenting, children are expected to follow the strict rules established by the parents. Failure to follow such rules usually results in punishment. Authoritarian parents fail to explain the reasoning behind these rules. If asked to explain, the parent might simply reply, "Because I said so." These parents have high demands, but are not responsive to their children. According to Baumrind, these parents "are obedience- and status-oriented, and expect their orders to be obeyed without explanation"

Children raised by authoritarian parents tend to lash out and rebel more than others during their teenage years. 

I believe all actions need to have consequences. However; I also strongly believe that all consequences need to be explained thoroughly and understood by the child. That’s only fair. 

Personally, I disagree with this way of parenting for the reasons listed above. I believe it’s confusing and unfair to the child.