Back, But Slow

Hello fellow teachers!

I should be finishing up an educational psychology quiz right now, but for some reason this blog popped back into my head, and it caused me wanting to write!  (Don't tell my boyfriend though - he thinks blogging is for hipsters.  I will change his thoughts. ;] )

Since this year I'm working full time at the Family Video in time, I'm only going part time to school this year.  I had to make some tough decisions on which classes I would take, simply because some are only offered during the fall, spring, etc.  I'm hoping what I'm thinking so far will work out.  I would hate to go do my student teaching, and then have to come back for an art class or something.

I would like to keep this blog up and going though!  In my Ed Psych textbook, there's actually these small things called, "Ed Psych and Me."  It basically poses questions that get the audience thinking about the text they just read.  I think this would be great for me to take advantage of in my own personal time to reflect on what I am learning. :)

1. How did your parents raise you?  How did this compare to your friends' experiences?  How did their parenting influence your development?  If you plan to have children, how will the way you raise them compare to the way you were raised?

Parenting style: general patterns of interacting with and disciplining children
Authoritative parents: set high expectations, are warm and responsive.  Firm, caring, and consistent.
Authoritarian parents: high expectations, but tend to be cold and unresponsive.  Expect conformity, don't explain reasons for rules, and don't encourage verbal give-and-take.
Permissive parents: warm, but hold few expectations for their children.  Children - used to getting their own way - have troubles relating to their peers
Uninvolved parents: few expectations for their children, and are cold and unresponsive.  Little interest in their children

All right, going forward with that information.

My parents, I would say, were a mix of authoritative and authoritarian parents.  My dad was a farmer and most of the time, he was out in the fields or in the milk parlor, so he really didn't do a lot of raising/discipling.  It was more so my mom.  Looking back, I would say she was definitely warm and responsive, but there were MANY times growing up in the years where rules would be set and the expectation to follow them would be set - even if the rule hadn't been explained.  Through such, I struggled with feelings of respect and love, and yet, also intense fear for my mother for most of the years of my life.

In comparison with friends, I would say my parents were MUCH more strict.  Especially in regards to social events.  We were not allowed to hang with friends on school nights.  We were not allowed to stay out pass 10 o'clock on the weekends.  We could only spend time with friends of the same gender.  And my parents would call ahead to make sure that that was what we were actually doing.  My siblings and I also had to make choices if more than one friend asked to hang out with us.  On top of that, we were usually only allowed to do a special "weekend hangout" with a friend once a month or so.

I think that really impacted my development with friends because while other girls were spending almost every weekend having a sleep over, or staying up late on a weeknight to watch a show that EVERYONE was watching, my siblings and I were almost isolated when we were at school participating in drama, choir, band, and athletic events.  How my mom disciplined me also affected me in a kind of negative way.  Let me further explain.  I love my mother, and respect everything she has to say.  But, I'm almost 23 years old and up until last year I took her opinions as "the word of God."  She had something to say about my life, I listened and did whatever she told me.  Once I broke up with a guy I had been dating for a three years, I was able to not only step back from that, but my entire life completely and see different aspects that I didn't like and that weren't helping me in my development - my mom's stubbornness and opinionated behavior was overwhelming.

Despite that, I do feel my mom and dad succeeded in developing a strong, independent woman who is creative, unique and a leader.  I do strive to be an authoritative parent - one who is loving, firm in rules, but also responsive and can explain the rules rather than just expect the child to take what I say at face value.  Yeah, there will probably be some times where I would very much like that child to take what I say and no question it, but children are creative and wonderful!



So, there's my thoughts for the day. :)  Peace out, girl scout.