This 60 Second Quiz Will Reveal Your Parenting Style
So, you want to know what you'll be like as a parent?
Being a parent is not as easy as it looks (or perhaps you already knew that). You've got to raise a child(ren), make sure they have some type of moral code, good grades, good work ethic, a "normal" family life (whatever that looks like nowadays), good diet, enough exercise, a social life, etc.; and then monitor all of those things continuously to make sure they stay on track. I mean, if you think becoming your own person throughout EVERY stage of development (think elementary school through university) was difficult, try encouraging, monitoring and advising one! On top of that, you're not only monitoring how they're doing in their own personal development, but you're making sure that you - as a parent and individual - are happy and healthy as well. On top of that, you never truly know what will happen until you actually have kids. Being a parent, just like being part of a couple, is half and half. Half of the equation is up to you - the parent - and the other half is up to the child. How will you handle difficult situations? Such as body modifications, alcohol, being bullied (or being a bully) in school? Changing schools? Puberty? The list is endless. Answer these questions and get a glimpse of what you'll be like as a parent!
Are You Patient?
Patience is the key to being a parent - and like it or not, you’ll learn it when you have a child. But having some patience to begin with, helps you get a head start. How much patience do you have naturally?
Have You Worked With Kids?
Previous experience with kids is something that greatly helps you prepare for parenting: it not only makes you comfortable with children at all ages, but it allows you to learn early on the tricks of the trade in handling babies all the way to teens.
Are You A Baby-Person?
Baby people are the ones you see in supermarkets that go completely nuts over a newborn, young baby. They’ll make faces to them, talk to them in a funny voice and play games with them - really do anything - to make them smile. Are you one?
Can You Handle Toddlers?
Toddlers are perhaps one of the hardest ages of raising a child. They’re suddenly full of energy, temper tantrums, and they’re in the middle of developing physically, mentally, emotionally and their personality. They also learn to talk (cue the 1,000 “why” questions every five minutes). Are you ready for it?
Do You Research?
Being a parent is a good portion of winging it, but there are more than enough resources to properly research every phase of development for a child. I’m pretty sure there are even books on how to parent teenagers - so you’re literally covered until they move out.
Do You Want to Work or Stay At Home?
In today’s society parents are encouraged to do whatever they feel is best for their individual family: whether that be one of the parents stay at home, day-care while both parents work, or a mixture of both. Have you ever thought about what you would do?
Are You Friendly With Your In-Laws?
Being close in distance, and relationally, to your in-laws can be a major help while raising multiple young children. You can call them for help, to baby-sit, or even skip day-care all together by having “days” with grandma (for free!) Would you do that?
Are You Prepared For No Sleep?
Every age of raising a child has periods where you will get little to no sleep. Whether it is because they’re a newborn and need to be fed every couple of hours, or because hey’re teenagers and missed their curfew. Prepare your coffee-maker!
What About Less “We”-Time With Your Partner?
While it is not encouraged, there will be phases where having a weekly date-night with your partner just will not be able to happen. What with school work, birthday parties, extracurricular activities and the funding for a night out, it just might not be possible.
Does The Prospect of Having Kids Excite or Scare You?
When I was younger, the concept of having children frighted the living daylights out of me. It still does, to an extent; and there is absolutely no shame in that. Having children is one of the things that you literally cannot give back - no backsies!
Do You Know When To Take “You” Time?
Part of being a good parent is maintaining yourself while being a parent. It’s hard to not make your children your entire world. The problem is, if you let your friendships go, you won’t have people to talk too when they move out.
Will You Know When To Leave Your Kids Be?
Ever heard of the phrase “pick your battles?” There are definitely moments of that with children: continually fighting with your kids will not create a good home environment. Learn early what you’re willing to battle for, and what you can leave for another day.
Is It Important That Your Child Has A Balanced Diet?
Realizing your mother was a superhero is a never-ending state of fascination within adulthood. How was she able to get us to eat a decently balanced diet growing up? Eating a balanced diet is a struggle most days, but being able to do that for a whole family?!
Do They Have To Have Good Grades?
To some parents having a straight A student an absolute necessity, and to others, as long as the child is learning, it doesn’t matter. Which end of the spectrum do you fall on? Does your child have to be a doctor? Or can they be whatever they want to be?
Will You Monitor Their Social Life?
Knowing who your child is friends with can be a good way to explain certain behaviours, trends and sudden wants (such as dyed hair, or certain clothing). Would you have these friends over and subtly monitor them while making their snacks? Or leave them be?
Will You Monitor Their Social Media?
This one is a trickier, as social media for the most part, is on your child’s phone or computer and they create social media profiles. Yet some parents insist that their children’s profiles are available to them via passwords. Would you do that? Or be friends with them on media?
Do You Care About Body Modifications?
Body modifications through multiple piercings, tattoos and varying hair-dyes have taken the world by storm. As a parent will you insist your children wait until they move out, are old enough to get it themselves, or pay for it when they’re in their mid-teens?
What If Your Child Has Questionable Friends?
The friends your child has, especially as a teenager, can really influence their academic performance and recreational life. If your child has questionable friends - however that looks - would you step in and fix it? Or let them figure it out?
What If You’re An Extrovert and Your Child Is An Introvert? Or Vice Versa?
If you have a child that is your polar opposite, connecting with them emotionally would be difficult, and perhaps a little too daunting. As an ambivert with a highly extroverted mother, there are definitely times when we did not mesh on wanting to talk or connect. What would you do?
Will You Lay Down The Law No Questions Asked?
Some parents have rules in their households, or say “no” to questions, with no explanation of any kind - which can get you in trouble pretty quickly with teenagers. Which side of the spectrum do you fall on? Do you explain or edict?
Can You And Your Partner Present A United Front?
Presenting a united front, while difficult, is something that tells your child at an early age that “no” REALLY means “no”. The problem is that presenting a united front includes coming up with a strategy that you both stick too individually when your child corners you and asks.
Are You Willing To Ask For And Accept Help?
As a parent you want to prove to those around you that you don’t need help. The problem is, being a parent is a full-time job 24/7 with literally NO breaks, unless you ask. For your mental sanity, I highly suggest you ask on occasion.
Would You Drink In Front Of Your Kids?
Alcohol has become this huge form of “the forbidden fruit” within North America; and a part of that is formed within the childhood home and how parents handle alcohol consumption. Would you have a glass of wine at dinner? Or have a nightcap once they’ve fallen asleep?
What Age Can They Date?
Dating is another “forbidden fruit” for teenagers. Teen love - we’ve all been there - is the first, and perhaps the most deadliest, of all loves. They’ve never had anything else, so they literally think “this is it”. Will you postpone that as long as possible?
Will You Ground Your Children?
In today’s society, a lot of the punishments have gone from being a punishment to being border-line abusive. In this instance, grounding refers to taking away certain privileges, or making sure your child does not attend extracurricular activities, in retribution for something they did that they knew was wrong.
Would You Be Willing To Use Tough Love?
Tough love is a tricky situation: it refers to the moment of making sure your child knows their loved, while ensuring they live through the consequences of certain actions that they knew were wrong. No matter how good a parent you are, it is a difficult situation to live through.
Will You Encourage Your Children?
Encouragement is something we all need continuously. Our children more than most. Will you be able to encourage them, regardless as to what is going on around you personally? Making sure that they know they have you in their corner?
Can They Have Different Interests?
If you like reading, and they absolutely hate it, will you be okay with that? Part of being a parent is letting your child develop likes and interests outside of your own. Are you willing to give up that dream of having your exact Mini-You?
What Media (movies, music) Will You Raise Them On?
Everyone has one specific form of media they prefer above the rest: TV, movies, music, books, etc. Which one will you use to form a bond with your child? Will it be bedtime stories? Watching Looney Tunes together? Or going around the house singing songs?
Will Disney Be A Main Feature In Your House?
Disney, specifically the 1980-2000 Disney films, have re-taken the world by storm with their nostalgic music and cartoons. Will you play these films for your children when they’re young? Or will you have them watch current, popular children TV shows?
Are You Going To Use Things From Your Childhood?
Let’s face it, at some point in our lives, we have all promised ourselves that we would raise our children on a certain form of media: such as musicals, classical music, reading childhood classics like ‘Harry Potter’ or ‘Anne of Green Gables’. Which one is an absolute must for you?
Could You Handle A Difficult Or Special Needs Child?
Sometimes children require things that parents are not naturally able to give, such as more attention, special training, more encouragement or even understanding; whether or not you are naturally able to give those things continuously. Are you willing to go outside of yourself and do that for your child?
Would You Give Up Friendtime For Childtime?
Sometimes being a parent means that you give up your planned night out with friends, to be with your child, or go to something that your child is doing (such as a music recital). Are you able and willing to put those types of things above your own social life?
Would You Post Photos of Your Child On Social Media?
Putting photos of your children up on your Instagram or Facebook is a grey area, but let’s be real, once those photos go up - no matter how cute they are today - they’ll be staying there forever. Meaning that in years to come, those photos will still be on the internet.
What Kind of Music Do You Like?
Your taste in music , especially when you’re child is young, will help develop what will become “nostalgic” to your child; and their taste in music. You ready for your Metallica preference to become the next talent-show performance in the elementary school show?
