2010-12-04, 03:14 AM
Kunagisa Wrote:As some insight to their unique parenting approach, I'd like to point out that both of them are very chilled out people, and they had me in their early teens. We're practically from the same generation, so they understand me easier than most parents. They felt that strict rules would just encourage me to break them, but also felt they should teach me guidelines. They wouldn't go to extreme measures unless I seemed like I wasn't getting the picture, but since that never happened, they never had to resort to it.
Overall, my parents never really tried to trick me much or anything, and always seemed to have a relationship with me that's very close to what I could call friendship. Real friendship, that is. The kind of friends that actually do look out for you and guide you, but they're not controlling of you. The ones that genuinely care for you. That's the kind of friendship I'm talking about. I was never a problem child, even though I was given way more freedom than any other kid in my age group.
I realize this kind of parenting has many ways in which it can go wrong, and I'm sure someone like Sarah will pop in and talk about how my parents are horrible for treating me like a friend before treating me like a prize they should shelter and protect from the harsh reality of the world until my time comes to naturally learn it, but honestly I don't think their parenting was bad at all.
So I'll say that my parents are my best friends. That doesn't seem to say much coming from someone that has no friends and doesn't like the idea of making many personal ties to people in real life, but I truly believe I wouldn't find anyone no matter how hard I searched that I can give the title of "real friend" to other than my parents.
Wow.... Thats... Amazing.
Ive never really heard of a case where parents treated their children as more of a friend than (you put it very well) a prize. I mean.... you could see it in movies and whatnot but in actual life this is most uncommon.
Its good to hear that it all developed well. You are truly lucky to have such a childhood and such relaxed and understanding parents.