Am I a hypocrite if I tell my kids not to...?

Question

drink and smoke pot, when i did it myself when i was a kid?

Answer 1

Hypocrite? No.....

There's nothing hypocritical about it. Most of us did things when we were young that we wouldn't do now.

I had my daughter at 17 - so, I'm a hypocrite if I tell my daughter not to have a baby at that age?

The theory is that as we grow older, we grow wiser and by trying to guide our children, possibly prevent them from making the same mistakes we did. The argument that if you did it you can't say no is flawed. Perhaps it's the best reason of all to say no, you've earned the right by learning the hard way to speak against whatever it is.

Of course, no guarantee that they listen, but you've got the creds....

Best of luck!

Answer 2

I did the same thing, I used to smoke pot all the time and drink, But I waited until I was 18. So if my daughter does any of it before she's 18 then I can get P.O.'d.

Besides drugs have gotten more and more dangerous(yes I know they are dangerous to begin with). Who knows what pot is getting laced with now a days.

Answer 3

Technically I guess you could be considered a hypocrite, but not morally. Bottom line is, kids do stupid things, even adults. But we don't realize they are stupid until later on, after we already did it. You know now what is stupid and wrong. And you don't want your kids to make the same mistakes you did. All kids need to make mistakes, but some are better off not made.

Answer 4

Yeah, but you're an adult now, and you've learned better than to waste your self that way. Your kids are still young and learning, so they need to be told not to do these things and tell them why. I personally think that I lost a whole lot of potential by getting high all through high school. Instead of learning and developing into an adult like I should've been, I was zoning in na-na land. You don't have to tell them that you know because you did drugs in your youth. Just pick out somebody you know who thinks they ruined their life with drugs and have them talk to your kids. My husband and I told our kids that we did drugs and that we ruined our lives with them. It didn't stop them from experimenting with drugs, but it did give them the knowledge to not get too involved with them. The only problem was that when we told the kids that we'd used drugs, and ruined our lives with them, the kids lost respect for us. :( But on the happier side, we have drug-free, successful adult children.

Answer 5

As long as you are trying to keep from making the same mistake again...then you are not in the wrong and you are not a hypocrite. You should probably be honest w/ them though. Don't let them find out about your past mistakes from anyone other than you. Let them know that you learned from yours and that you don't want them to face the same problems you did. They'll listen...

Answer 6

Absolutely not. Your children are only privy to your past if you want them to be. Besides, older and wiser right? Your only a hypocrite if you down those who still haven't figured out that drinking and smoking are roads to no where.

Answer 7

Maybe its because you didn't get any positive experiences as a result of having done so. Maybe you got some negative consequences from having done so and you are trying to save them from the same fate. I'm sure your mom told you not to, perhaps for the same reasons. I don't think I've ever met someone who could brag and say their greatest accomplishments occurred while they were drunk/high. To the contrary their greatest moments of shame usually happened during those moments.

Answer 8

If you once made a mistake you are not a hypocrite if you try to prevent someone else from making that same mistake.

Answer 9

You're a mom now. That is part of your job. Be a hypocrite if it helps your kids turn out okay.

Answer 10

Yes, but it's better to be considered a hypocrite than to be considered a bad parent.