“We have a rule that as long as shes honest with us, I wont be angry.
Every parent makes mistakes it’s part of the whole “being a human being” thing.
Here’s some of what they had to say:
1.
“I’m a millennial mom of 4-year-old twin girls.
They’re very independent and want to do a lot of things for themselves.
“I will never compare my children with each other.
It was always heartbreaking to do something good and be told that my sister would have done it better.
Or to be asked, ‘Why cant you be more like your sister?’
I hated that.”
Momof2feelslike20
3.
“My mom was notorious for giving the silent treatment.
She’d stop speaking to me for days, weeks, occasionally months at a time.
I often didn’t even know WHY she was ignoring me.
Sometimes she’d tell me later, sometimes not.
I make it clear why I’m angry and how I expect them to remedy the situation.”
When I was suffering from depression, she told me I needed to pray more.
“We have open discussions about mental health with our kids.
collinna
4.
“My parents were very cold people.
terriadams1988
6.
“My boomer dad and Silent Generation mom did mostly well raising me, especially in my younger years.
I was taught that theend of the worldwas going to happen in my 20s.
I’m definitely not teaching my son rapture theology.”
khendradm
7.
“I want our relationship to be built on trust.
We have a rule that as long as shes honest with us, I wont be angry.
There were so many things that I lied to my parents about that were dumb.
Now I know they would have understood, but I didnt trust that when I was a kid.
“My mom raised us by equal parts guilting and bribing us.
I attempt to be better by actually talking to my son.
Porgirella
9.
“I apologize if I mess up.
That I’m still learning to be a mom.
My dad is still mad that I do this he thinks that parents never have to apologize.”
“I also have a go at play with them when they ask me.
My mom was always tired and never, ever played with me.
lalalamememe
10.
“Allowing my son to be a kid withemotionsand feelings, and allowing him to make mistakes.
“Something I’ve started doing for my children is recording voice notes for them.
My oldest is 23 and my youngest is 12.
Could you send me more?
And send me some for [his brother] as well.
“And that was 100% my intent.
They’ve grown up seeing me be recorded singing, and they’ll have videos of me singing.
But I want them to have my voice telling them their stories.
I want them to have as many ‘I love you’s’ from me as they can get.
robinseggblue
bmoney
13.
As a kid, I was never offered water.
Always juice, milk, or something flavored.
I didn’t start drinking plain water daily until I was pregnant!
My 9-year-old loves water now.
My mom still always tries to offer her flavored drinks.”
I see to it that it’s sincere and not a quick ‘Okay, love you, bye!’
bang out of thing.
itsme
15.
She did things the way her mom did them.
Even though she hated it, she refused to change.
I won’t be making that mistake with my son.
gingeroni
16.
“With my toddlers, I set boundaries.
And I tell them calmly that I’m there for them if they need a hug.
And if it’s not, then thoroughly explaining why it’s not possible.
“Not forcing my son to go to school when hes having an episode.
My son has a learning disability and is going to a special school.
Some days, he will feel overwhelmed or a bit blue, and he will skip that day.
It doesnt happen frequently, and I call it a mental health day.
Communicating and making sure he knows he can trust me and talk to me about anything.”
Ryrashii
19.
“I never understood why parents have to get their kids up early on weekends and during summer break.
That’s their time to sleep in.
And the world will take most of it away at some point, so let them have it now.
“I dont over-shelter my daughter from the tougher parts of life.
krazykate77
21.
“I’m doing my best to check my family heirloom neurosis and perfectionism.
kellye49cd5daca
22.
My parents always underestimated my stubbornness and pettiness.
It just reinforced my behavior and made me hate them.
I dont do that anymore at all.
My biggest go-to is just, ‘Dont be an asshole to your kid.’
Dont be an asshole to your kid.”
jacquelinea46fed492b
24.
Is there something I’m doing that you wish I wouldn’t?
Is there something you need from me that I’m not giving you?'”
“I also tell my kids that they’re allowed to call me out on things.
Why are you taking that tone with me?'
Because the way I speak to them is just as important as the way they speak to me.”
I went to get my nails done and left him with HIS own dad.
“I try not to burden my kids with my stresses.
I may have gone the other way a bit.”
She still credits me with helping her before it got out of hand.
She was just ‘naturally skinny.’
I’m sure she knew, but she never said a word to me at the time.
8 Pets Aplenty
27.
“I refuse to call my daughter any names that could cause her self-worth to go down.
I grew up being called ‘dumb,’ ‘stupid,’ ‘idiot.’
madelynt3
Note: Some responses have been edited for length, clarity, and/or grammar.
