Additional Coverage:
- Growing up, my parents didn’t discipline me. Now, I’m doing authoritative parenting — and it’s working. (newsbreak.com)
Beth Rush, who was raised in a bustling household of 17 children, witnessed firsthand the challenges of growing up without sufficient discipline. Her parents, who adopted 13 of the siblings to provide a nurturing home, struggled to maintain order, leaving a significant impact on Beth. She observed that this lenient approach sometimes resulted in her siblings losing respect for authority.
Determined to take a different path, Beth and her husband decided to adopt an authoritative parenting style with their children. Prioritizing logical, disciplined responses to misbehavior, they engage in age-appropriate discussions about the consequences of actions and enforce these consequences when necessary.
For instance, recently at a grocery store, their 5-year-old son was told why it was wrong to add an unplanned item to the cart, and faced restricted TV time for calling his parents mean. Similarly, their 8-year-old daughter learned about respect and consequences when she was denied bike privileges after slamming a door.
Beth notes that while she naturally leans towards a logical method of parenting, her husband excels in addressing the children’s emotional needs. Together, they maintain a balance of strictness and emotional support, believing that this will help their children grow into well-adjusted adults.
Despite occasional doubts about being too strict, Beth finds reassurance in the positive outcomes they see from their approach — teaching their kids about respect, responsibility, and the importance of communication. The couple remains dedicated to enforcing rules and providing a loving, structured environment for their children.