for the future parents out there. (or people who have kids already)

Okay so as you guys know... I spend a lot of my time with young children.

The kids I take care of are extremely well behaved kids for me. Because I'm strict. They know what I won't put up with.

But there's a lot of other kids in my life and I frequently tell myself 'I'll never let my kids behave like that' but people tell me 'Wait til you have your own.'

So I always tell FH we should start now... make a list of things that we feel we can't budge on. Put it in writing and when we have kids... pull out the piece of paper as a reminder.

Like... off the top of my head:

- 'I'm not running a restaurant.'

I hate seeing parents make 4 different meals for themselves and two kids. You don't like it? You don't KNOW that! TRY IT. Won't try it? Go to bed hungry. We'll see how much you hate it when you're asking for a snack an hour from now.

- FH wants the kids to have no TV's in the bedrooms. (I'm not so sure about this... we're gonna have to debate this one)

- I don't want to have kids who have a million toys and don't even play with them. I want them to have a small amount of stuff they actually appreciate.

- Manners!!! I always try to get the kids I watch to do polite things. Like I always say 'Be a gentleman. Say 'thank you' for coming. Let's walk so and so to the door.


etc.



What are things you see other kids do or not do ... or things PARENTS do or not do that drive you up the wall? That you feel when you have kids (or if you already have kids) that you want to make sure you institute (or already do or maybe wish you were instituting).


TIA!

This is funny, cause I made a comment on a friend FB... she said she had just got her almost three y/o off the bottle... and Is aid good job, I hate when toddlers are running around with bottles and pacifiers. Those parents are lazy and she got SOOOO MAAAADDDD. I was telling her she was doing a good thing, I don't see why a 4 year old needs a pacifier! Parent them and they won't !

Anyway, that, and running around in stores/restaurants. If your kids can't behave, restrain them or leave them home. Sorry. I was in a friggin CASINO and I got my feet trampled on by a 5 y/o running all over the place... and the parent ssaid nothing.

I agree with yours.

I also want our kids to eat healthy. My mom almost never let us get fast food..we would only get McDonalds like once a year after the doctors because it was next to it. hahah

Every night we will cook and eat dinner together as a family. Dino and I did this with our families and we want to keep it like that. I knew some families growing up that ate all at different times and never sat together to have a meal.

Being polite is a big one. Not littering.

Not being a spoiled brat.

They will have to do chores and learn responsibility.

Play outside and not just VIDEO GAMES 24/7 hahah

I don't apply yet.

But.

I cannot stand it when parents don't act like parents to their children and instead they are best pals with their kids. How can you possibly enforce rules and discipline to a child if most of the time you're their best friend? It can't work, and you mess with the kid's head.

My mom would not always give me a clear answer if I asked her 'why?' about something. Her answer would be 'I'm the mommy, THAT'S WHY.' and that would be that.

I also had the 'this isn't a restaurant' routine when I became a vegetarian. My mom and dad told me that I'd have to speak with my doctor and learn to cook and follow criteria for young vegetarians (to ensure I got what I needed) - I was 12. I did all that.

I also think it's really important for kids to be involved in some kind of community group or charity work so they understand that the world doesn't revolve around them. (I know a lot of adults who could benefit from this too ). For us, it was Girl Scouts, food drives, and we would donate our clothes and some toys a couple of times a year.

manners are huge for my-i was taught to tell everyone please, thank you, you're welcome, and refer to those older than me (even by a little bit) as sir or ma'am

i hateeeee the restaurant thing-i sat still when i was little, and if my kids can't they won't go out to eat until they can

education is huge for me, and i know it's something that will be focused on from day one

music is also a huge deal for me, because i know the benefits of music on learning-so my children will play instruments from about 3 on...and go to concerts, and operas, and ballets..

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Posted by jackieee

I agree with yours.

I also want our kids to eat healthy. My mom almost never let us get fast food..we would only get McDonalds like once a year after the doctors because it was next to it. hahah

Every night we will cook and eat dinner together as a family. Dino and I did this with our families and we want to keep it like that. I knew some families growing up that ate all at different times and never sat together to have a meal.

Being polite is a big one. Not littering.

Not being a spoiled brat.

They will have to do chores and learn responsibility.

Play outside and not just VIDEO GAMES 24/7 hahah

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YES! CHORES.

thank you!

kids are perfectly capable of putting their clothes in a hamper, setting the table and emptying a dishwasher amongst other things.

I will always make sure my children show respect to other people -- especially people older than them. This includes saying hi to everyone when they enter a party. I hate when my younger cousins show up late to a party and don't bother to say hi to anyone. I think that's incredibly rude!!!

I will not be making more than one meal. If the child doesn't like it -- tough $hit!

I will not allow any cellphones at the dinner table -- once again, I think it's completely rude for a kid to be texting while they're trying to have dinner with their parents. (Another thing my cousins do.)

I will not let them play with friends or toys until after their homework is done. I think this is important to show them a work ethic.

I will make them save money, but I'll put it away for them until they're older. (But I won't tell them.)

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Posted by jackieee



Play outside and not just VIDEO GAMES 24/7 hahah

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This is a HUGE one for me!! My parents used to have to drag me back into the house kicking and screaming! Now kids never leave. And they are such p*ssys because of it! LOL! They fall down and scrape their knee and it's like the world is ending!! We got knocked around plenty as kids and we're still standing!

Growing up we didnt have tv's in our bedrooms, we didnt have any video game systems until my brother was in his 20's when he got sega genesis...

we ate what was for dinner... unless it made us throw up... my sister didnt have to eat sausage, and i didnt have to eat spinnach because it made me throw up...

Shaun and his brother were/are such picky eaters because his mom made them whatever they wanted rather than making them try something new... they grew up on pb & balogna sandwiches... nothing wrong with them but not every single day for every meal... im sorry... FBIL still has never tried a hot dog... hes also never ate a hamburger until last year until Shaun practically forced him to try it... and now he likes them...

every time FBIL ate at my parents house my dad would tell him everything was chicken... hes 14 now so he knows the difference but because he ate a lot of new stuff at my parents he knows that he likes, pork chops, steak, and shrimp...etc..

I hate phone calls during dinner... another thing that i get from my dad... i also like sitting down together to eat dinner...

When we were older my mom made a work schedule and we all had chores to do... every week...

I dont think i will be strict, but there are a lot of things that i know i will be like my parents with... such as all of the above! LOL...

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Posted by jilliibabii

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Posted by jackieee



Play outside and not just VIDEO GAMES 24/7 hahah

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This is a HUGE one for me!! My parents used to have to drag me back into the house kicking and screaming! Now kids never leave. And they are such p*ssys because of it! LOL! They fall down and scrape their knee and it's like the world is ending!! We got knocked around plenty as kids and we're still standing!

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LOL so true!!! Go out and ride a bike..play games..run around!