Comments on: The Choice to be Unpopular

By: Krista

Krista — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:40:02 +0000

We’ve been having lots of parenting discussions amongst friends it seems lately! And it reminded me of something my parents said. They set pretty strict rules (which weren’t really a big deal to me, but they were to my brother!), but they always said that we could “blame them” for anything. If there was something that we couldn’t do we could just say “my parents won’t let me” and let our “friends” think they were uncool. They didn’t care.
Now, I think this sort of back fired on them with my brother, but it worked for me mostly!

By: kate

kate — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 05:38:03 +0000

this was so great to read. I have 3 small ones too (2 girls, 3 & 4, and a tiny 7 month old boy).
I now look back at my parents and think they were too soft, too. Sometimes the things they let us watch or do, NO WAY!!

I pray for creativity. I pray that the Lord will give me wisdom in moments when i am clueless and grace when it’s needed. I once heard a mom say, “I have broad shoulders. I don’t need any more friends”. That has stuck with me. I want my kids to form bonds with friends that will last a lifetime and I want them to respect and honor me for life as well.

i appreciate your perspective and love knowing that there are other moms out there who strive to raise children who are loving, kind, and respectful. And let’s not forget, cool!

By: Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship

Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:51:48 +0000

Clearly this theme is resonating with other moms. Fabulous breakdown of an important issue. I always told my students, “You have lots of friends and don’t need another. I’m here to be your TEACHER.” I’ll have that quote ready to go when my kids get old enough to compare me to other moms and say in my face, “But you’re soooo meeeeeeaaaaaan!”

By: rrmama

rrmama — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:39:02 +0000

Found this by way of Jo-Lynne. I have to agree, I love to have fun with my kids but there is a time to be the parent and enforce the rules. I would rather my kids think me un-popluar now and realize later what I did for them. Thanks for the post!

By: Diaper Diaries

Diaper Diaries — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:36:24 +0000

thank God I have a few more years. I am dreading this!!

By: Diaper Diaries

Diaper Diaries — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:35:25 +0000

thanks. Hope you will stop back!!

By: Diaper Diaries

Diaper Diaries — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:34:56 +0000

I think you can strive to be unpopular and still be really fun. It is a good balance to have.

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:30:13 +0000

A lot of parents do think I’m crazy, because I have certain things I’m strict about, and certain things I’m totally not.

But I do still want to be the “cool” parent. You know, the one who’s not afraid to say “the laundry can wait” and play a game. The one who says “Sure, we can put paper down and fingerpaint over the whole kitchen!” (on the paper!!). The one who says, “Blow off school to go launch rockets? Yeah!” That cool mom. Who lets kids explore, create, have fun.

But NOT the “cool” mom who is more friend than parent. I think those kids grow up desperately seeking an authority figure and if nothing else…it will be the police. Not the way you want your kids to turn out!
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Average Grocery Spending and Ways to Save on Real Food =-.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:00:33 +0000

I just discovered your blog today and I am in love! Reading your 100 things post I could relate to so many of them. My kids are still young (2 & 1) but I am well on my way to being an unpopular parent and proud of it. .-= Suzanne´s last blog ..Picasso Pictures =-.

By: nicole

nicole — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:56:32 +0000

Great post! Having a large family pretty much automatically excludes us from the popular parent category, but we make it even worse by setting actual standards of behavior for our children. The horror! .-= nicole´s last blog ..Friday Faves March 19 =-.