Quote:
Originally Posted by RizzyKing
... with the best of parental intentions we have created a bad parental situation with the kids we are now brining up. ....
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Yes. My childhood environment was, on the whole, very good, but the occasional knock or heartache made me who I am today. My instinct is to protect my children from the "bad", but my head tells me to let them feel some pain.
For example, when younger my children would often ask for sweets. I remember that desire from childhood, as my parents never let us have sweets (apart from birthdays and holidays). My instinct was to give in (especially as it buys a few minutes of peace), but my head told me (and my wife) to work through this and offer "proper" food instead.
We are facing harder dilemmas now that the children are older. My son gets invited to parties where alcohol is available (unofficially, of course). He knows we don't approve of drinking at this age, but I can't help thinking that a stinking hangover will do more than parental frowns.
Raising children is the hardest job in the world. I have the greatest respect for parents, even those of "chav/charva *******s".