Positive praise for other parents

[Hathor]

OK, so just tell me something about seeing how another parent is with their child that has inspired you, impressed you or made you change your own parenting.

Me first: An elderly MIL of my SIL (my SIL-MIL?) talks so gently, unjudgementally and with such interest in my irritating hyperactive nephew that he sits down and converses with her. Lovely to see.

Well, there's my cousin who has 3 children, exquisite taste, all white furniture and the latter has remained all white - no idea how - sorcery? No, she has been firm about them not climbing on it so they don't. Wow.

One of my friends is so laidback with her children - nothing like the uptight, perfectionist witch I was when my son was first born! I'm learning loads from her. She has pretty much always let them eat when they are hungry, sleep when they are tired (within reason), always picked them up and cuddled them when they cried, never worried too much about 'stimulating play' etc - just let them get on with it. Never had any big plans with regards to discipine or sleep routines or 'parenting'. She just deals with things so calmly and is so relaxed and down to earth about stuff. Her children are fab, too - lovely, bright, funny, pretty chilled out. She has been an inspiration to me - pushy parenting isn't the way forward.

I often disagree with my IL's but have to say that their laidback approach to my DH and his sister and their calm and supportive manners have produced two well-balanced and happy adults.
They are now the same with my DS's and are adored by their grandsons.