am I too strict?

[PandaFeet]

I am scared I am turning into my mother. She was very strict about everything, and it led to a lot of resentment. I don't think I would ever go to her extremes, but then things are coming up now that make me wonder.

My eldest DD is 5. I have told her she can have her ears pierced in Primary 7. So around 10/11. A relatives child is 3 and has them done, now my DD is asking to have hers done again.

She has no computer games. No DS, no PSP etc. I feel that as she can't read yet she doesn't need them. I also don't let her watch any film above a U. Maybe a PG if I have watched it first and think its ok. But when we visit other peoples houses their similarly aged kids have DSs and watch 15 rated films.

I know everyone parents differently, and I should do what's right for me, but am I going to be making it more difficult for her to make friends because she's out of the loop?

We have friends - both super achieving, highly educated and they let their kids (aged 7 and 9) play 18 cert games like Mortal Combat and Grand Theft Auto.

Weird. Their logic is 'it's only a game'.

So, no I don't think you are overly strict at all.

My two were always very careful with their DS, they understood that it was a big expensive present.

As for ears - they had theirs pierced at ages 9 and 11, right at the start of the long summer holidays, and they have had no trouble taking care of them. I wouldn't have done it earlier.