Do you think some people take their role of parenting way too serious, that they're trying too hard?

[Vesuvius87]

For instance I actually thought it was funny when I saw a video of two little brothers (around 5-7 years olds) fully covered with paint. The father in that video was serious at first but then he started laughing.

Seriously if that was my son in the future and he made a mess of himself as one of his mischieves, I would find myself laughing. His face all cover with paint would be funny. It would be ludicrous to expect him to have the maturity of an adult and behave like one at that early age.

Honestly, I see myself as a dynamic mother with a sense of humor and healthy boundaries. Some parents try so hard with their role at parenting to the point they get too serious and sometimes even turn to overused, religious sermons that they forget how they were as kids themselves. Is parenting suppose to be a role you have to always be serious? What if my son does something he thinks it's funny and I happen to have similar sense of humor he has and think it's also funny?

[NathanDavis]

some things... you can laugh it out

others, definitely not

balance is key to many things, if not... everything in this life

[Vesuvius87]

yeah that's the key word, balance. You can be too serious and suffocating (an authoritarian) but neither too permissive.

[NathanDavis]

right

[exitseven]

I was serious about certain things. I made education a priority. I never pushed my kids to play sports or go to camp.

[Vesuvius87]

Besides them having basic manners and good education, I think these things are important for my son:
- His overall health and good eating habits:
Healthy meals and no junk food nor weekend desserts. I don't want him addicted to chocolates, Ramen noodles nor desserts.

- Social activities and skills
I wouldn't want my son to be at home, laying in bed, watching TV for endless hours or doing nothing in the house. I prefer him to have a healthy, social life, go out with friends and have a hobby he likes.

- Self-defense
Personally I think it's helpful for someone to learn self-defense from early childhood. It would boost my son's self-esteem, confidence and he would know what to do with a school bully in the future. The school bullying is getting worse and I figure if some pathetic bully thinks he's so tough and wants to hurt my son, he would have my full permission to defend him.

[exitseven]

It is easy to let your kids just sit in front of a screen all the time. My kids spent a lot if time outside and made friends with the neighborhood kids like I did.

[eagle1951]

dome do some don't do enough