My parenting style

In light of my recent post.


I was wondering about some of the parenting styles of my readers.

Let me tell you a little more about myself.


If you have been reading my blog from the beginning, you will know that I am a strict parent.
I feel that I have to be. I need to be.


I can't stand for my children to be running all over the place as if they don't have any sense or like they don't know any better.


No, you won't see my kids climbing on chairs or tables or running rampant in restaurants.


No, you won't hear my kids yelling at the top of their lungs or throwing tantrums in public places looking like they need a good spanking.


No, you will not hear my kids talking back to me. (At least not without a super-quick glare from hell from Mommie Dearest.)


Yes, you will get proper introductions from each of them upon meeting them, and then again each time afterward. Um hmm, even if that action does require prompting..I will happily prompt in order for them to learn respect.


Yes, you will hear them say "Please", "Thank You", "Yes Ma'am", "No Sir"...etc. as part of their everyday vocabulary. That's just how we roll.


Now, when it comes to Dominique, he thinks he's grown already.
14 does not make him grown. What makes him "grown" (to me) is the respect he should have for himself and other people.


He's not old enough to care for himself properly so I am here to make sure that he gets just about everything he needs (this goes for all of my children but I am just focusing on Dom right now because we are in this situation).


Our life as a whole could be worse. Right now, we are at the best we have ever been (financially) so we are able to provide for our children in a very humble but respectable manner.

But still, that doesn't mean the we can get a big head and act like we are all that.

I don't allow that. I prefer to remain humble and remind my kids that we need to be grateful that we have what little we DO have. Also the fact that we are able to keep what he have.


As a child, I grew up knowing we didn't have much but thinking we at least had some neat stuff.
Then that neat stuff started to disappear and we would get more neat stuff and then that would disappear.
Little did we know that the pawn shops were the latest hot spots.
They had all of our coolest crap.


Anyway.....


For the longest time, my brother bought the game consoles for Dom as he was growing up. I don't know what happened but somewhere along the way he lost sight of appreciation.

Oh yeah, did I mention that he has an IQ of 140? Yeah, he's trying to master the art manipulation. He thinks he can get away with things with me but he's quickly learning that I am the "Master" and he is the "Grasshopper".


Dom starts getting to these points throughout time where he gets around people who subconsciously remind him that he's waaay smarter than they are. So, he slowly starts to climb up on this pedestal and it's hard for someone to knock him down. He will say things in condescending ways and I pick up on it immediately.

Right then and there I have to make him aware of it in order for him to humble himself and realize that he isn't better than everyone else.


These "adjustments" are the way I do it.


I used to spank* my kids but I'm way past that now.

Is it wrong to want your children to be respectful? To utilize the manners you have taught them?


I don't think so and I stick by what I think.



So, for any one of you guys who are wondering how Dom is taking his transformation.....you know, with his hair cut off and all.....

What do you think?

You think he looks sad? Or depressed? Or like his life is ending because he can't dress how he wants to right now?


Nope.


He knows that it was a consequence he was going to have to pay and he is fine paying it.
Besides, his hair will grow back and his clothes are in my closet. When he changes his attitude...he will get them back.


He's growing up to be a great young man. He tells me everyday that he loves me (He just told me a few minutes ago).


So...Now, I know I'm doing the right thing.