Week Five

This week’s reading is personal and relate able and also on a very controversial topic: Parenting. The article parenting: The Lost Art goes over many controversial topics and different point of views. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the article and chapter as well. There is no right or wrong way of parenting. All around the world kids are brought up with different parenting styles and techniques, some are result in good kids and some do not. Is it only parents and their style of parenting to blame?

Like in life there are many different factors that play important role in one situation and same applies to how a child turns out. Environmental, Social, Heredity and Parenting all play important roles in a child's development. A lot of the times I have heard many people say that they don't want their kids to" hate" them when they are teenagers. Every teenager goes through a phase where they like and listen to their friends more than their parents. At that age priorities are always changing and "fitting in" becomes important for survival. Parents a lot of the time compromise with the kids and let them do as they please in order to keep the kids safe and for them to like their parents and not do anything irrational. There isn't one party to blame why certain kids behave badly but are at fault many factors they lead to such situations.

The chapter goes over four different styles of parenting and I can relate to authoritarian parenting style. It is not one parent, it is a culture and that is how kids are brought up. While growing up rules were always set and it is the way it is. I was given an explanation if I asked for it but a lot of the times I was not allowed to. There was absolute no talking back, always respecting and listening to elders, parents are right and many other ground rules. The environment I grew up in was not harsh but compare to American parenting it seemed harsh. I remember in High School I always compared my friend's parents to mine. I always remember wondering that why can’t I go out late or why can they do that and I am not allowed? It was a cultural difference and in our culture too much freedom can result in bad behavior or drugs or being sexually active. 

Every parent thinks they are doing the best they can and their way of parenting is best for their child. There is no book written that tell you on how to parent your child, as every child is different and unique. One parenting style does not work for every child.