There's a lot of parenting advice out there. Books published every day, blogs updating repeatedly, and Instagram accounts spamming your timeline with the "best tips for new mommies and daddies." It can all be a little overwhelming when all you really want to do is spend time at home with your kid.
That being said, there is a lot of garbage advice out there, and these people felt the need to speak up about it.
Reddit user, qquackie, wanted to know what things parents do nowadays you disagree with then they asked:
"What parenting 'trend' do you strongly disagree with?"
It can be easy to be led astray by the internet. After all, if its on the web seen by thousands upon millions of people, then it must be true.
Right?
Once On The Internet It Stays On The Internet
"Recording everything your kids do and putting that on social media"
Sakuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
"What I learned was if you are a foster parent and you live in certain counties you cannot post anything about a child you are fostering on social media. No pictures, videos, and you cannot post their legal name."
Playful-Base-6082
"Absolutely agree. And I can’t believe family vlogging is still seen as acceptable"
qquackie
Those kids will very likely sue their parents in the future. Watch: Data privacy laws will become the wave of the future.
Look At Me! Look At Me! And My Kid, I Guess.
"Abusing the talents of your child just to boost your self image in society"
sweettooth_92
"1000% agree. I feel so bad for so many of the child celebs who are basically just forced to be in the spotlight for fame & money"
qquackie
There's a reason why people frown on stage parents!
But It's Like...Why?
"That thing where they pretend they got their kids a ps5 for example, the kids are freaking out with excitement, but then its just a ps5 box filled with books or something."
MacyTmcterry
Pranking children to the point that they cry just so you can get likes on social media is gross.
Perhaps the hardest part about being a parent is that whole "being a parent" thing. Turns out some people really don't want to step up when it comes to setting the boundaries for their kids.
Finding That Balance
"Not saying no to your child. They have to learn to deal with a no sometimes, and having a chat about why it is no and whether it could be a yes another time is also an important part of them learning to deal with no."
coocoorookoo121
"I’m a high school counselor and it’s very apparent to me that some kids never hear no and that a 14 year old is running the household"
One-Barracuda-2675
Children do need to be told "no" from time to time otherwise parents will create spoiled monsters.
"Omg this. In my friend group, I am the "strict, no fun" parent--because I say no to my kids, and enforce limits. I have plenty of fun with my kids and do say yes a lot, but I think it's important that my kids learn how to deal with being told no! Having limits makes kids feel secure, IMO."
"One of my mom friends literally told me that she doesn't want to say no to her kids because she doesn't think they're emotionally mature enough to understand what no means. I'm like....yes? You need to teach them? And surprise, surprise, one of her kids has real issues with boundaries/limits now that he's older."
puns_within_puns
There's a distinct difference between "fun" and boundaries!
Remind Yourself You're The Parent
"Not setting clear boundaries. You are the adult, not the kid. Children benefit sooo much more from clear rules and consequences."
NorthWeight3580
"Yes like dont get mad at your kid for not doing or doing something because it was "implied""
RandomCraplol
Children actually do want rules and guidance!
Keep Your Kid Away From My Kid
"Pretending that not parenting is parenting."
"'I wont tell my child to stop kicking your leg repeatedly because i don't want to crush his spirit!'"
StoicDonkey
"I took my kids to the park once when they were small, and this older child came up and sat on the slide literally just so my kids couldn’t use it. His mom came up and was like ‘oh hey, he really doesn’t like little kids.’"
"…okay? That’s not some super relatable ‘aren’t children a hoot’ thing. If your kid is being a little AH, step in, it’s not some completely impossible to deal with situation. Why would I want to stand there and make small talk about how your kid is going out of his way to upset all of the smaller children, that isn’t funny."
"Having kids has made me so much less tolerant of people who can’t be bothered to actively parent, not go ‘oh well, kids are impossible’ the way these half-a--ed people seem to expect."
Captain_Quoll
Don't Allow Them To Experience Any Experiences
"The “bulldozer” parent - ie the parent who removes all obstacles/challenges from a child’s life so they don’t learn about perseverance, problem solving, failure (sometimes you can try hard and still not get the reward) and learning from mistakes - unless the goal is to develop a highly anxious person - then, being a bulldozer parent is great."
spinefexmouse
The Teacher Does Not Have It In For Your Kid
"Not believing the teacher ever. “My kid never lies to me”."
"Seriously. Parents absolutely should be their kid’s biggest supporter. But support sometimes means holding the kid responsible when they don’t do the right thing."
jdith123
Do Some Reading
"Fake “Gentle Parenting”"
"You hear and see so many parents letting their children do whatever they want, no matter how destructive, rude or hurtful their behaviours are. Parents find themselves beholden to the whims of their childrens’ emotions in the name of gentle parenting, instead of true gentle parenting where (so I hear) boundaries are set alongside validating emotions."
canadainuk
Just try your best.
So long as you're doing that, that's all your kid can ask for.
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