Being a Mean Mom is Not a Bad Thing
Did you read the story on CNN today about the Mom who sold her son’s car when she found alcohol in it? Yep, she did. When her son got his car around Thanksgiving, they clearly set out the rules - no booze and always keep it locked. Those sound like pretty good rules to me. So when she went looking in his car and found alcohol under the front seat she decided to reinforce the rules and placed an ad for the car in the paper.
Do you think she was too harsh? I don’t. Being a parent is getting harder and harder. Kids need to know where there boundaries are and that you will enforce it if needs be.
Believe it or not, the Mom who placed the ad has received many phone calls - not just inquiring about the car - but applauding her for doing her job as a parent.
Gayla, at Supernanny Rules, has some pretty similar takes in her post about strict parenting. What is wrong with having high expectations, clear cut guidelines and meaningful consequences? Nothing!! It is a lot easier for a child to learn how to make educated decisions on their own when they know what they are up against.
I was called the meanest Mom ever lately. Why? Because I wouldn’t take my 9 year old daughter to go see the Hannah Montana concert. We had the opportunity to go, but the concert was an hour away on a school night and she’s only 9 for crying out loud. She sulked around the house for a few hours after she got the news that her best friend was going but she was not, but she got over it. The concert was Monday and she didn’t even seem to notice its passing.
Being a tough parent does not mean you have no compassion or care for your child’s well being. It also doesn’t mean you are overprotective. It means standing your ground and being a leader. You wouldn’t want your child to cave into peer pressure just because someone called them a name would you? I am not going to give in to my child’s wants or tantrum just because they call me the Meanest Mother Ever - instead, I just say “thank you - that means I am doing my job!”
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POSTED IN: Parenting
7 opinions for Being a Mean Mom is Not a Bad Thing
Gayla McCord
Jan 9, 2008 at 10:49 am
You Go! Oh I just LOVE that mom put the car up for sale. What’s going to be easier to live with? Selling the car or identifying your kids body after they’ve wrapped the car around a tree?
My grandma always told me that IF your kids don’t hate you once in a while, you’re not doing your job very well.
I never knew what she meant until I had kids of my own.
Neena (NeenMachine)
Jan 9, 2008 at 1:03 pm
What a great comeback! I’ll have to pull that one out when I need it.
Linette
Jan 9, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Oh yeah, I’m told by my son (who’s also nine) on a regular basis I’m the meanest mom ever. I tell him basically the same thing- thanks, that’s my job:)
Mommy B
Jan 9, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Bravo to all of the Mean Moms out there!
It’s actually refreshing to hear as story like this. Especially after recent stories like the mother helping her daughter lie about her dad getting killed in Iraq to get concert tickets.
RE: “Being a tough parent does not mean you have no compassion or care for your child’s well being. It also doesn’t mean you are overprotective. It means standing your ground and being a leader.”
I love it!
homemom3
Jan 9, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Woo hoo, it is about time parents put their foot down. I think if more parents did their would be less accidents. (read my blog Char and you’ll understand) Oh I’m always voted meanest mom with my kids, that is unless they want something then i’m the nicest mom in the whole world.
Taking Back the Title - Meanest Mom
Jan 10, 2008 at 5:14 am
[…] Weary Parent for the […]
Angela
Jan 10, 2008 at 10:54 am
Yay!!! to all the Mean Moms out there: I’m one of you. Embrace the title and know that it means your kids have a fighting chance! Go MEAN MOMS!!!
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