What type of parent are you?

[unicorn]

Guardian

interesting article in Guardian...

Have to say im an authoritive parent,like to give the children their freedom but still expect them to show respect & do as their told although it doesn't always happen.Don't think children need to be told what to do all the time,they are there own little person and need to express their feelings too.

I aim to be authoritative but I'm sure I don't always manage it!

afraid I recognise some of the authoritarian traits.. handed down no doubt from my dear mother.

thanks for that article, it's made me feel better about being shouty and enforcing rules today.

Authoritative definitely but heavy onthe physical affection and , I'm ashamed to say, a bit Jekyll and Hyd - can flip out at the drop of a hat or the bite of a brother or the scribble on a sofa

I am definitely authoritative with an unhealthy splash of authoritarian thrown in. But I also occasionally display elements of the other two, I'm sure. I certainly couldn't, wouldn't shoehorn myself into one category.
And yes, my parents were definitely authoritarian, but because of that I try to be a better, more thoughtful parent than I might otherwise have been. So in that respect they did me, or rather my kids a great big favour.

Think most mumsnetters will be authoriative with a tendency towards either authoritarian or indulgent. Can't see many uninvolved ones coming on this website and arguing about controlled crying for example. So the argument would be between the ones with the authoritarian streak (pro cc) and those wiht the indulgent streak (anti cc). OK simplistic I realise. And I think I can veer both ways in certain areas.

I wonder where the dads fit into this?! Dh is definitley indulgent! Whatever ds wants he gets when dads in charge, leaving me as the mean mummy. I do try to be authoritative but have authoritarian or indulgent moments.

I'm "uninvolved". That's why I go to work 3 days week rather than stay at home, sometimes feed them non-organic junk food, and shipped them off to childminder today & am dossing on MN.

What about all those dreadful "how not to parent" programs on TV - "Driving Mum and Dad Mad" for eg. Surely most of those people are having difficulties because they are too extremely indulgent or uninvolved and not authoritative enough? Let's face it, it's a long hard slog trying to be firm but fair all the time, with the challenges increasing exponentially with each additional child !

What about all those dreadful "how not to parent" programs on TV - "Driving Mum and Dad Mad" for eg. Surely most of those people are having difficulties because they are too extremely indulgent or uninvolved and not authoritative enough? Let's face it, it's a long hard slog trying to be firm but fair all the time, with the challenges increasing exponentially with each additional child !