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Originally Posted by GoSharks
'Absent parenting' vs 'responsible parenting' vs 'over-protective parenting'... where to draw the line between them is the quandry and what makes each family different and special.
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Or dysfunctional. Plenty of those around too and generally they can be found at either extreme of the spectrum.
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But to not be involved enough to decide where to draw that line for your family is poor parenting.
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I absolutely agree, but in my opinion oppressive monitoring and restrictions are the very worst ways in which to engage and involve oneself. I'm confident they are also, in general, the least effective methods of creating well balanced, harmonious adults. Better by far to talk to your kids about what you'd rather they don't do and explain carefully why, then let them make most of their mistakes early on.
By restricting your kids left, right and centre while you can, all you do is make sure that all the big mistakes are being made after they've left home, at which time the consequences will generally be far greater. Letting them be stupid, curious and experimental while in a safer environment is by far the better option. Of course, some people probably think they can imprint their kids with safe habits and behaviours which will persist when they leave the nest. Sadly they will generally cause the exact opposite to happen.