How many of us go through the process of having children, when our families have already told us how to bring them up and they’re not even born yet?
I remember a friend of mine talking about babies and how her family were already telling her how to bring her baby up and she was only just pregnant at the time. I’m smiling because I've heard it so many times before. It’s very common for family, particularly parents-in-law to feel that they have a right or an opinion on how their grandchildren should be brought up.
I’m not there yet, but having seen it happen, I intend to do things differently when it’s my turn. We all have a right to live our lives the way we choose and if that means bringing up children in our own way, then that’s up to us. This problem runs in cultures as well as families.
Having a baby gives us a choice; a chance to parent. Past generations have made their choice on how to bring up their children, we should have a right to choose for ourselves; without families feeling the need to inflict their opinions on us.
After all, they're our children, our lives and our decisions, therefore it is up to us how we choose to parent; as our parents before us made their choices.
I believe this a very common trait amongst families, they just can't seem to mind their own business.
Sound advice from you though.
I think it is quite common, but there are some families that do get it right.
I agree with you.
Every parent should be able to bring up their kids their way. My parents especially my mother did not interfere with the raising of their grandchildren, although it does not stop my father some times putting in his 2 cents worth.
But now that his grandchildren are older they take his advice with good humour.
It's amazing how from what you say your father hasn't quite changed the way he does things, but your niece and nephew change the way they perceive their grandfather, so what he says is taken in good humour.
I agree with everything you say here. I have a grand-daughter and I don't tell my daughter and boyfriend how to raise her. It's their child and they need to raise her themselves.
That's wonderful Lisa. They will thank you for it.