Digital content creator Anneliese King is widely known on Instagram for sharing her raw and unfiltered thoughts on motherhood. We’ve collected some of her top insights to share with you, Pandas. Scroll down to take a peek.
Bored Panda reached out to Anneliese, and she was kind enough to tell us about the story behind her account, @sh**tymommymoments. She also shared why many of us feel pressured to be ‘perfect’ and what can help new parents when they’re feeling overwhelmed.
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Though everyone’s parenting journey is bound to be unique and there are no universal answers for how to raise kids well, some approaches are healthier than others.
Authoritative parenting, one of four main parenting styles, is the most balanced of the bunch. It focuses on creating a balance between firm boundaries and unconditional love, which creates an environment where kids most often thrive.
Authoritative parents do their best to communicate very clearly, openly, and with calm assertiveness. They establish guidelines, so their kids always know what acceptable behavior looks like and what’s inappropriate. On top of that, these parents also support their children unconditionally and celebrate their individuality. It’s a blend of structure, transparency, and good old-fashioned support. Their kids, in turn, grow to be more resilient, develop better self-esteem, and have better all-around emotional well-being.
The other 3 main parenting styles are slightly problematic. For example, authoritarian parents have lots of rules and restrictions for their kids, but they hardly ever communicate why they should be followed. They expect their children to fall in line no matter what, and they don’t take their feelings into account.
On the flip side, permissive parents tend to see their little munchkins as their friends. So much so that they rarely enforce any rules at home. It’s all support without structure or parental involvement.
This doesn’t do the kids much good because when they grow up, they tend to have problems with self-esteem and struggle dealing with authority figures.
Meanwhile, uninvolved parenting happens when the caregivers are completely detached from what their children do. They spend barely any time with them, effectively leaving them to raise themselves.
What’s your parenting philosophy like, dear Pandas? What do you think can help parents avoid the ‘perfection’ trap that many online influencers set? How can we all develop a more relaxed approach to raising kids? Share your thoughts in the comments.
