Parenting styles

[bookworm]

I was thinking about things said in another thread and thought I'd pose a question- Diva, you said you parent in a way that encourages "thinking outside the box" and Dia, you said you are a "fun" mom. Did you make conscious decisions to parent the way you do? When did you begin to define your personal style?

I never really thought about HOW I parent in definable way. I don't think it really matters how you define yourselves- everyone parents in their own way-I just found it interesting that some people DO defnie themselves.

[Dia Minha]

I had never thought about it until Diva said something. Then I thought back and realized that my children have always loved to learn and work, when it is turned into a game. I'm usually pretty good about coming up with ideas to make it fun. However, if I'm not familiar with the topic or process (scientific method) I'm trying to teach, it is too hard to make it into a game. Usually it is hard enough just to get the point across. Or it's easier to just do it myself which frustrates me, because I know that isn't the way it should get done.

Like with writing this science research report. As soon as I quit concentrating on whether it was getting done right and just started talking to my daughter about all the interesting things we were learning it all just fell out on the paper. We still struggled with sentence structure and organization, but I was able to just say hey this is fun, she and I are learning a lot. It doesn't matter that it isn't getting out on paper the way it should, because she will impress the judges with her presentation and ability to answer their questions. Which is the fun part for her. She is very social and loves to "perform". Not everyone is a scientist and that is ok.

[5ft Diva]

I never intended to have a parenting style, I just noticed that I did. It's not necessarily how it define myself as a parent - it's how I am as a person and how it affects the way I teach my kids. It's more a reflection of my personality. I hope that makes sense.