How would you raise your kids differently?

If you have kids or if you DID have kids, how would you raise them differently from how you were raised?


I wouldn't raise my kids to be afraid of so much, or to be so narrow minded about so many things, and if they had an interest in something, I wouldn't let the fact that I didn't like it be the deciding factor in the matter.


How about everybody else?

I can't say I'd raise 'em too differently. I might be a little more available to them and try to yell at them less. There are little things here and there I'd do. But I don't think it would be radically different.

The hugest thing that I do differently with my son is that I teach him so much. My parents never taught me basic things. I had to figure out so much on my own because my questions were mostly always brushed off.

It doesn't matter what he asks me, I find out how to explain it, even if I don't know the answer myself.

My parents were awesome. My biggest fear is that I won't be able to do nearly as good a job. They encouraged us and supporting us and have always been there for us. When I was a kid, my friends would sit around complaining about their parents, and I'd wrack my brain, trying to come up with something. I was really into dancing as a kid and my Mom spent hours sewing my different costumes while my Dad spent hours with my brother on the courts and travelling to tournaments.

I would keep them on a shorter leash than the one my parents had me on.
I was really a free spirited child and got to do more than I probably should have.

I'm not as strict as my own parents were. I try my best to be 'fair,' not a push over, certain things my kid will never get away with, but fair. My own parents were pretty uptight and overbearing as I was growing up; sometimes it was like pulling teeth to get them to let me do the most basic of things. As a result, my older sister grew up repressed and I grew up being naive.

I wouldn't be as overbearing and would encourage them to have more individuality (me, my sibs and cousins were all raised with more of a GROUP mentality because we come from a huge family. I want my kids to come up with their own ideas and pursuits).