How would you describe the ideal parents?

[Riprorin]

I'm a parent myself and want to do the best job I can with my kids.

Since there are a lot of teenagers here, I'm curious how you would define ideal parents.

 

[fatbaby]

let me do anything i want

buy me all the porn i can use

buy me hookers

don't care if i get bad grades

give me $100 an hour just for living

do everything for me

<--wannabe spoiled brat

 

[Sluggo]

Everything my parents did for me, made them perfect.

No way to really put it into words, but they did a great job, I get along great with my parents.

Let them fail on their own, teaches good lessons.
Let them find their own way.
Dont try to live through them, making them do things you didnt/couldnt.

It is your responsibility to teach them right and wrong, and make sure they understand it.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
let me do anything i want

buy me all the porn i can use

buy me hookers

don't care if i get bad grades

give me $100 an hour just for living

do everything for me

<--wannabe spoiled brat

You just described about 95% of the population of the United States b/t the ages of 15-25.

 

[ElFenix]

oh, and they have to let me eat pizza 7x a week

 

[Ylen13]

Be a rich parent and buy your kid anything and everything he /she wants and don't make them do chores, you can afford house keeper if you are rich, buy them a car at the age of 16 preferable Benz. Never tell them when to go to sleep/ homework etc. Give them allot of money when they go out and also get them a credit card in there name and also get them a cell phone.

 

[BigJelly]

The ideal parent is a parent not the kid's friend. You have to be strict enough so the kid doesn't become a brat and not too strict that the kid hates you. You have to be compasionate and caring, but you also have to let the kid learn from his/her mistakes. You have to provide a safe enviroment where the kid knows that he is safe from the outside world, while not completely sheltering the kid from the outside world. You have to give you kid responsiblity and at the same time make sure he/she doesnt abuse it; the more responsibility that prove they can handel the more you give them. And you need to give the kid love and be there when he/she needs someone.
But what do i know about raising a kid, im only 19.

 

[eakers]

you know that fine line where you let your kids do whatever they want but they don't become spoiled brats or hoodlums?

my parents did that, and i have no idea how. i think it had to do with organised sports but i'm not sure for sure.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Ylen13
Be a rich parent and buy your kid anything and everything he /she wants and don't make them do chores, you can afford house keeper if you are rich, buy them a car at the age of 16 preferable Benz. Never tell them when to go to sleep/ homework etc. Give them allot of money when they go out and also get them a credit card in there name and also get them a cell phone.

You're my GF's younger brother, aren't you?

 

[notfred]

Don't be an overprotective ass who wont let thier kids do anything. If they'll live trough it without a felony on thier record, let them try it and learn on thier own that it was a stupid thing to do, it's a lot more effective than "Because I say so" anyway.

 

[Ylen13]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Ylen13
Be a rich parent and buy your kid anything and everything he /she wants and don't make them do chores, you can afford house keeper if you are rich, buy them a car at the age of 16 preferable Benz. Never tell them when to go to sleep/ homework etc. Give them allot of money when they go out and also get them a credit card in there name and also get them a cell phone.

You're my GF's younger brother, aren't you?

Lol no but my parents were exactly the way I describe ideal parents except getting me a Benz

 

[MacGaven]

Listen.

 

[boggsie]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
I'm a parent myself and want to do the best job I can with my kids.

Since there are a lot of teenagers here, I'm curious how you would define ideal parents.

Teach me how to live a reightous life, not by talking about it and browbeating it into me, but by being a living example that I could respect and adore.

Take the time to explain 'why' even though it may take me decades to come to the realization that you were right.

Set boundries and hold me accountable to them, even though it will hurt you when I rebel.

Always be my parent, even though you may want the comfort of considering us to be friends. Don't give up the parental relationship, until I've moved out and established my own permanent home.

 

[littleprince]

The ones in that other thread that bought him the RSX after he got his prelude stolen or whatever and he was too dumb to get insurance....

I learned most things myself anyways. My parents werent around all that much.

 

[Actaeon]

Don't get on the kids case all the time. Let him have his fun (If hes going to parties/concerts/whatever), trust him, if he breaks that trust, then thats another story all together. I hate parents that restrict stuff like that.

I'll think of more, just too tired.

 

[Ryan]

I think my parents are the ideal parents. They never forced religion down their childrens throats, in fact, they never really involved us wiht religion at all. They gave my sister and I the right to make our own decisions, and then face the consequences if those decisions were wrong or right. They have been there for moral support if we have ever needed any, and are accepting of us no matter what. They bought us 500$ cars and told us it was our responsibility for take car of them and pay insurance - they would loan us money if we need it, but i had to be payed back. And most of all, they have used rational thinking when trying to explain their own reasoning, and never sheltered us from adult subjects when we were children.

 

[LoTecha]

Loves selflessly and able to demonstrate it.
Knows how and when to discipline.
Responsible.

 

[Actaeon]

Yes, religion is a good point, don't force it.

I think the thing I enjoy most as a teenager, is my freedom. My parent's aren't very restrictive on the stuff I do, I understand that, and I really don't do stupid stuff.

Don't shelter your kids from "bad stuff", but explain to them the dangers and why its bad.

More to come soon...

 

[Brutuskend]

Rich, generous, and deceased in that order!

 

[Zenmervolt]

The one's I have. They love me.

They trust me to make my own decisions and while they will help me out if I need it, they don't cushion the blows from stupid decisions (and I've taken my share of those). They don't over-emphasise the small stuff, so they don't seem repressive because they save their effort for the big things, the important ones.

ZV

 

[Dragnov]

You don't necessarily have to agree. You just have to UNDERSTAND.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: MacGaven
Listen.

What he said. Keep the lines of communication open.

 

[PigPig]

Originally posted by: BigJelly
The ideal parent is a parent not the kid's friend. You have to be strict enough so the kid doesn't become a brat and not too strict that the kid hates you. You have to be compasionate and caring, but you also have to let the kid learn from his/her mistakes. You have to provide a safe enviroment where the kid knows that he is safe from the outside world, while not completely sheltering the kid from the outside world. You have to give you kid responsiblity and at the same time make sure he/she doesnt abuse it; the more responsibility that prove they can handel the more you give them. And you need to give the kid love and be there when he/she needs someone.
But what do i know about raising a kid, im only 19.

I agree w/ this.
Parent can't be too controlling or overprotective.. but can't give the kids too many freedom.... have to guide them and tell them what it's right or wrong... but have to let them fail sometimes in order to learn from mistakes.........

but, i think ideal parent is a good friend to the kids rather than a "parent".......
so that your kids will tell you almost everything in their mind........

 

[Wingznut]

<-- Father of two boys, 9 and 5.

Consistancy... If you aren't consistant, then he/she can't be consistant.
Pick your battles... Don't rag on the kid for every little thing. Eventually he/she will figure out that it's impossible to please you, and give up.
Be accountable... If you give an ultimatim (i.e. "Pick up your toys and then you can stay up 30 mins." or "Pick up your toys, or you're going to bed early."), you'd better stick with it. It's not negotiable, once you've laid down the ground rules. This kind of goes along with consistancy. And if you promise them something, you'd better hold up your end of the deal.
Treat them with respect... Sounds like a no-brainer, but I see crappy parents all to often who talk down to their kids, as if they aren't worth the effort to carry on a civil conversation.
Balance negative and positive reinforcement... If he/she deserves praise, be sure to mention it.


Btw, I think asking kids what makes a good parent has the potential to be very bad advice. When I was a teen, I thought I knew it all... But now that I have kids, I realize that I didn't know sh*t.

 

[AreaCode707]

Teach children that you love them unconditionally, and that you are proud of them when they do the right thing.

Teach children about consequences. You do x, and you are responsible when y results.

Teach children that there are absolutes in the world; teach them a worldview so they have something to reference against.

Teach children to think. Not just to do their homework, but how to critically evaluate what they are told.

Let children grow and make their own decision and mistakes at the level they can handle. Remember that raising them is a constant process of letting go.

Teach them to work for things, but sometimes pitch in and give something they didn't work for. Do this especially if it helps them learn to help others.

When they're teens their friends come over and hang out, even later than seems reasonable. They could be out other places, but if they feel comfortable being at home with their friends, and their friends like you, they'll learn to appreciate their parents as friends as they grow into the age where they'll be choosing whether or not to treat you like a friend.

Love the person they choose to marry, trusting that you raised them so they have everything that need to choose well, and putting no emphasis on race or religion.