Do you think tough love is the best way to raise kids?

Question

i was a little punk when i was growing up.
and you know what? i've actully turned out to be a much better adult than i thought i would when i was going through those silly rebellious years....
I think it ALL has to do with the fact that that my parents were tough on me, real tough. they didn't put up with any temper tantrum i tried, or any lie, or bad thing i did.
I just want to see what other parents think.
that's all.
oh,uh, PS.
i'm 20 now.

Answer 1

Hey FlatBelly glad to hear that you grow up and turned into a respectful citizen of the community. I work with your folks like you described yourself in your early days. For some of them the tough love approach is good - if they haven't strayed too far off course. For others, the time is long past for parents giving or attempting to give them tough love. Today kids will knock the hell out of their parents if they don't get their way, a lot of them. Some will learn from the system IE: youth centre's and jails as the grow up. Will others will not learn from these experiences and will think of themselves as big time criminals or gangsters as they learn their education from more seasoned criminals. Regardless of my carrying on about these others, I am a strong proponent of the tough love stance if your child respects and/or at times fears your wrath and so obeys what you have delegated. Thank your parents for spending the time to give you this approach while growing up and also give them a lot of credit for you becoming the fine young woman you are today, they must be very proud of you.

Answer 2

It depends. If tough love is given with supportive love, then it's good. In my case, I was given tough love but no support and it was like living in juvenile hall. I moved out when I was 17 and I don't have a good relationship with my parents to this day.

Answer 3

I was the meanest Mom in the neighborhood--because my son had a curfew, had to be home for dinner (at the table), and had to go see his grandparents every week. He's now 27, married, owns his home, runs a business, and thanks me for being a mean Mom. My sister is her kids' "friend", one is on welfare with 2 children, the other is 22 and still home, working part time. Nuf said eh!! Funny tho--All my son's friends wanted to hang out here!!

Answer 4

Yes and no - some children really don't need tough love. I know someone - a friend of a friend of my dad's - who's about to hit rock bottem. They've tried to help him 10,000 times before but he just won't learn. So it's rock bottem for him.

Answer 5

They way children are today they think they know more than their parents. I believe having tough love is ok it depend how you work it. The secret is since our children try to out smart the parents, we catch them by surprise. Show giving tough love to your children is ok, but you don't want it to back fire.

Answer 6

Yes. It's the only way to raise kids properly. In the words of the Dog Whisperer: "You got to be the Pack Leader". "You have to be dominant". You must demand respect.

Answer 7

i strongly believe in tough love...not all time but when its needed..my mother practiced tough love with my brothers and i and im glad she did...i went through my phase where i drove her crazy and thought i knew everything and didnt "like my mother" and she didnt break down she was tough with me and i turned out great..i ahve friends whose mothers didnt practice tough love and let their kids walk all over them and they r all messed up...and im 30 now

Answer 8

An old fashioned *** whupping with a belt will do the trick.

Answer 9

if it works for you then maybe it will work on your kids to, becuz all kids needs discipline and guidance but please don't ever forget love and hugs and kisses all the time even if they don't ask for it.

Answer 10

Well when you're as old as I am then you are still a young punk. lol