There are plenty of approaches to raising kids, and different people worry about different things. For example, according to a 2022 survey, 45% of parents say they tend to be overprotective and 20% claim they might be giving too much freedom. 35% think they give in too quickly and 30% believe they stick to their guns too much, while another 26% note they probably praise their children too much rather than criticize them too often (20%).
Interested in these differences (and similarities), Redditor Then-Routine4852 made a post on the platform, asking moms and dads: "What parenting trope, cliché, or stereotype do you wish would go away?" Here are some of the most upvoted answers they've received.
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#41
That once you’re a parent your social life goes out the window.
I have 3 best friends from college and I’ve now taken two absolutely wild weekend trips to NYC with them and in the planning phase of a Europe trip. My husband is amazing and goes into super dad mode to watch the kids and I am forever grateful for that opportunity. When I know my kids are safe and cared for, I can really let loose and just be *myself* in ways I wouldn’t be able to when they’re around. I don’t get that time very often (once every year or two) but it’s enough to reignite the spark of who I am now and who I once was.
I hate the idea that if I’m out, and a stranger finds out I’m a mom, their first reaction is to condescendingly ask “where are your kids?”
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31points
#43
The general labeling of parents, and the competition/ comparing that comes with it.
SAHM vs working mom
Crunchy vs silky
Baby led vs purées
Gentle parenting vs other styles
Sleep training vs cosleeping
Crunchy vs silky
Baby led vs purées
Gentle parenting vs other styles
Sleep training vs cosleeping
It’s exhausting and you are always a terrible parent in someone’s eyes.
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26points
#45
If you follow this Parenting Style, your kids will turn out perfect.
I'm such a great parent that's why my naturally calm, attentive, mellow kid is that way.
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25points
#47
That any kind of physical punishment aka abuse is necessary for some kids/families. Spanking is not okay. It’s abuse. Let’s start calling it as such.
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23points
#48
When looking for cookbooks on baby food, so many of them were titled "New Moms' Cookbook", "Mommy & Me...", or some variation. My husband is the primary cook in our household, and it was off putting to once again see the reinforcement of gender roles around parenting. Similar vein as some others on here, how hard is it to remove the gendered language on this one?
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23points
#49
Ridiculous kids meals. why not kids portion fish and chips or steak frites. why always pasta or pizza or hamburger or chicken fingers. give the kids something nice. My kids love fish and chips and i always get a normal portion size (usually quite large) and split it between my kids.
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22points
#50
I hate the idea that toddlers (age 2-4) are terrible & terrorizing / threenagers / ‘f*ck you fours / etc.
I really don’t think its healthy to label your child’s completely normal developmental stage so negatively. I don’t believe this framing is actually helping parents.
Of course we need to be able to vent when overwhelmed but I don’t feel its constructive to give a label to an entire age or window of time.
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18points
