How would you describe your parenting style?

[enchantmentandlove]

I find different parenting styles/child development really interesting, and was wondering if anyone would like to share what their parenting 'style' is (if anything)? I don't believe that there is one right way to do things or anything, as all children are so unique.

DD is only 9 months, but I would say I try to follow my instincts and I also love a lot of gentle parenting. I've also been looking into things such as Montessori and Reggio Amelia a lot.

Haven't got a style, I'm just their mum, I had a great teacher though as my mum is perfect in my eyes

Internal (home setting) - dictator with benign aspects. A lot of responsibilities thinking about others, getting on with being bored.

External (ie in a child care setting) - all about the Montessori - love it, think it is amazing and if they could stay for another 2 years, I would. Sadly, they will move on at 4.5 to school. I think my kids will be fine but I can see how younger children will struggle

I'm definitely in the 'winging it' camp, which translates into trying different things to see what works. I'm sure if I measured up what I was doing against different documented parenting styles, it would end up being an unholy mash up.

DS seems to be doing ok so far but its still early days.

Relaxed.

And. Doing the exact opposite of my mother.

Benign neglect.

the non negotiables are non negotiable
If i say something i follow it through
if i am wrong i apologise
I am not their friend I am there mum and it's my job to make them socially acceptable- so that's manners, cleanliness, age appropriate behaviour in public.
Try to encourage them to think of the impact of their actions-
i don't smack, i shout more than i want to though to be honest, although my 2 youngest don't react to anything else. And yes, i've tried everything, over long periods of time.

Winging it with added bribery and shouting. (They're 10 & 8).

Strict. Well stricter than other parents I've seen. Actually my kids love the life of Riley but I have my rules and that's the way it is.

Firm but fair with lots of laughter.

More or less Attachment style/ gentle natural-based parenting based on partnership.

Including co-sleeping, breastfeeding, babywearing (until abt 1year old), no sleep training, no bottle, no dummy.

Barefood shoes, minimalistic baby cosmetics-natural, gentle healthy weaning based on seasonal and local, no processed food-dont subscribe to baby eat what you eat.
Limiting TV/videos.
Extended rear-facing in the car.
It is all sort of comes together.
Would love montessori education.

Everyone fed.
No one dead.

Yep!

I'm a really odd mixture. On some stuff, I'm dead relaxed - I let my kid eat dirt, I let him go off and explore on his own (as long as he's more-or-less within eyeshot and we're somewhere safeish - not near a main road obviously). From the sound of some of the Mumsnet threads, many Mumsnetters would consider me a dreadful mother - I let him eat fish fingers and chicken nuggets (although we do eat lots of fruit and no sweets too), and I do let him climb all over stuff and wander around.

On other stuff I'm quite crunchy - he hardly ever watches TV, we still cosleep about two-thirds of the night, I haven't had the heart to stop breastfeeding, though I really ought to for various reasons.

I worried enormously about sending him to childcare (he was perfectly fine - loves it). But I left him on his own with his dad for an evening when he was a month old (he hated it - screamed the whole time I was away).

So, making it up as I go along, a bit. He's a year and a half.

"Oh shit"

Seems to be the theme of my parenting life.

Im quite relaxed I think... Popcorn for breakfast on the weekend and all that.
I always tell her (in order) before she goes to bed that she is:
Kind
Clever
Sweet
funny & then lastly beautiful

I suffered with my confidence as a child and don't want her to do the same.

I have 2 totally different styles as my two DS could not be more opposite and need different approaches. My 3 year old is autistic and the gentlest boy - he needs loads of encouragement and support and very gentle discipline. My 17 month old is boisterous, cheeky and very physical and needs firm boundaries and also obviously lots of encouragement.

Trying desperately to cling on to the tattered remains of my sanity!

Try my best each day

Ah Stef that's lovely 😊

Kind but firm. Mostly kind with lots of hugs and cuddles. Boundaries are set and stuck to as much as possible so that we all know what's expected but there is never a 'punishment' as such if he does something. I try to explain what he's done and why he shouldn't do it again. So far it works but he's only 6.

My own mum was all over the place by being overly complimentary and exclaiming how wonderful/smart/beautiful we were one minute and then a raging mass of PMS hormones screaming at us that we were messy, inconsiderate and useless the next. She always apologised but it really affected my self-esteem and I have a lot of anxiety as an adult. I rarely lose my temper and would never scream and rage at him.

Thanks Ninja x

I think my parenting style depends on my mood!

I try to be patient and understanding but I sometimes end up shouting and ranting.

I often find myself saying that if I get to 5 I'll... and then never even starting to count because they've then done as they've been told. I am firm and follow through with any threats I give but I also make a fuss and reward things that are good.

I'm practical and loving.

I'm not crafty or arty - I hate doing things like that with a passion.

I don't join in with their pretend games.

I try to be laid back and let them get on with things without hovering around them.

I wouldn't call myself an attachment parent - although I am of course attached to my children, metaphorically speaking, I didn't do the baby led routine, baby led weaning, baby wearing or co-sleeping thing.

I'm not always happy to be a parent but of course I don't tell my children that.

stressed out and doubting all decisions we make.....

Parenting is like any relationship, it takes hard work and it changes all the time.

The last time I gave any thought to a parenting "style" was when DC1 was under one because it's not a two way relationship at that age ... it's one dimensional with the parent calling all the shots.

Once your kids are old enough to start expressing their own needs and emotions, adapting to what they need becomes more important than implementing the parenting style of the day. You'll find there's no one style, one book, one method that works in every situation and quite honestly when your child is a bit more independent and then more kids come along, you will barely even have time to think about it.

Child led to a point. A nudge to help them over the humps. Loads of affection and reward, occasionally punitive. Depends on the situation really - just muddling through with a focus on enjoyment.