[Mika]

I think every child is special in his/her own way and every child needs a unique parenting method. Choosing a middle path (neither strict nor lenient) might work in most cases. However, some children are too much difficult to handle and they need strict measures for discipline.

[Netherrealmer]

Your comment brought a smile to my face. My parents played the role of good cop and bad cop, their roles changed frequently, but they were never a good cop or bad cop at the same time.

Yeah because if both becomes bad cop at the same time, The kid will end up hating both parents. I agree that the good cop bad cop roles should also switch.

[Mika]

The kid will end up hating both parents

I think all of us hated our parents at one time. However, as an adult, we understand why they were so hard on us. I think all parents need to study child psychology.,

[Vehlijanta]

All new parents can learn from your article because early on people used to live with their parents but this is not the case now

[monster_masterpiece]

The mom has more ability to learn kids at young age, when they grow boys learns from their father and girls from their mother.

[arunima]

Parenting roles and responsibilities have changed a lot with the changing socio economic conditions. The gender specific roles in parenting are not so rigid. Society is moving to more gender fluid parenting roles with changing economic conditions. We see more number of home maker dads these days and they are being accepted with respect. Joint families are disappearing in many cultures and parents have to share the responsibilities.

[augusta]

I hope I will be a good mom to my kids I would take care if their personal hygiene which is very important and wouldn't ever fight them . That' can be embarrassing.

[JASPREET]

Mom's are best for kid but that does not mean Dad's are not helpful and its like a cycle with two wheels but the front wheel is mom

[Mika]

No offense to anyone but sometimes I wonder how gay parents raise kids.

[Jem Smith]

You don't have to live by old fashioned gender roles or sexist stereotypes. Most of the fathers I know certainly take part in feeding and bathing their children etc. That being said, according the Australian Bureau of statistics last census, most Australian women do more most housework than most Aussie men, even if they also do paid work outside the home, so I'm sure lots of mothers are still doing more than their fair share of the parenting.

Your tips are mostly very good ideas, I just don't think that they really apply to either parent more than the other.

"
Teach manners: Children are deft in throwing tantrums. One of the ways to control tantrums is by teaching them manners"

Not really. Young children have tantrums and meltdowns because they don't have the skills yet to regulate their emotions, be patient, self soothe and calm themselves down. That's different from manners. They can know that they're supposed to be polite and quiet but still not be able to do that yet. It helps if parents model good emotional regulation. Like, if children can see that you get upset too when things go wrong, but then you are okay in spite of it, and that you can lose your temper sometimes too, but then you admit you were wrong and apologise.

-- 02 Mar 2023, 12:52 --

No offense to anyone but sometimes I wonder how gay parents raise kids.

The same as anyone else. It's not like a man can't teach a child to tie their shoes because they're a man, or a woman can't teach them to ride a bike because they're a woman.

-- 02 Mar 2023, 12:54 --

There are also times when the parents don't play the normal gender roles because its the dad who stays home and its the mom who works.

Most often both parents work these days, at least here in Australia.

-- 02 Mar 2023, 12:56 --

Very much true in many ways. However, at times Dads can also teach kids things that Moms generally do.
Plus a Mom can also attend a child's sports match, if the Dad is busy.

That's correct. But is generally accepted that dads can teach sports, mom can teach table etiquette.

It would depend on which one of you is good a sports. The Australian women's cricket team is doing very well internationally at the moment. I doubt those women's kids turn to their dads for tips on how to play cricket.

[Mika]

The same as anyone else. It's not like a man can't teach a child to tie their shoes because they're a man, or a woman can't teach them to ride a bike because they're a woman.

Parenting is not only about teaching skills or helping them learn something, right? I was wondering about how gay parents teach about gender and sexuality

[Jem Smith]

The same as anyone else. It's not like a man can't teach a child to tie their shoes because they're a man, or a woman can't teach them to ride a bike because they're a woman.

Parenting is not only about teaching skills or helping them learn something, right? I was wondering about how gay parents teach about gender and sexuality

Well, again, the same way as anyone else. It's not like a kid with two mums wouldn't know that men and dads exist, and that most people are straight. They'll see heterosexual couples and families everywhere.

[friendociate]

I mostly agree. Except for the reading---my mom AND my dad would read to me, and I think I worked on my reading & speaking & singing in order to be more like my dad

[Mika]

Well, again, the same way as anyone else. It's not like a kid with two mums wouldn't know that men and dads exist, and that most people are straight. They'll see heterosexual couples and families everywhere.

How likely do you think the kids will be influenced by the gay lifestyle of their parents?

[friendociate]

Well, again, the same way as anyone else. It's not like a kid with two mums wouldn't know that men and dads exist, and that most people are straight. They'll see heterosexual couples and families everywhere.

How likely do you think the kids will be influenced by the gay lifestyle of their parents?

The only thing I can think to compare it to is 'children of families (in America) who don't speak English at home'---their kids learn to speak their native languages the same way all babies learn (from parents & relatives speaking it around them), but they learn 'the language everyone uses' as they interact with the world.

BTW, how do same-sex couples answer when baby asks, "Where do Babies Come From?" I mean, it's been a while since I've heard that question asked, and the only answer I remember (that didn't get into 'the anatomical answer' ) was "When mommies & daddies love each other VERY MUCH ..."---and I'm thinking that might not fly with a young mind that doesn't know 'what a mommy is' (with gay parents) or 'what a daddy is' (with lesbian).

Maybe they tell the kid 'your mommies showed Uncle Jay how much we loved each other, so he helped us "call the stork"' sound good?

[Mika]

Maybe they tell the kid 'your mommies showed Uncle Jay how much we loved each other, so he helped us "call the stork"' sound good?

I believe gender and sexuality are two separate things, so I was thinking about how gays, or lesbians for that matter, teach kids about these topics.
You seems to come up with really funny but also thoughtful answer: D

[friendociate]

Maybe they tell the kid 'your mommies showed Uncle Jay how much we loved each other, so he helped us "call the stork"' sound good?

I believe gender and sexuality are two separate things, so I was thinking about how gays, or lesbians for that matter, teach kids about these topics.
You seems to come up with really funny but also thoughtful answer: D

I think comedy is one of the best ways to learn about things ... I mean, Royalty always had its jesters; yeah? (I don't know if they 'reported the news,' but their performances DID make the Royals' hard lives easier!)

The word "Jester" comes from the wordroot that means "Recite a Tale, Action, Exploit, Carrying, Behavior, Performance (see Gest)"---as do "Jest, Jesters, Jestee, Jestees, Jests, JestBook, Jested, Jesting."

[Jem Smith]

Well, again, the same way as anyone else. It's not like a kid with two mums wouldn't know that men and dads exist, and that most people are straight. They'll see heterosexual couples and families everywhere.

How likely do you think the kids will be influenced by the gay lifestyle of their parents?

That's not how sexuality works. If it did, you wouldn't have straight couples with gay kids.

The influence you are likely to get is that a child with gay parents is going to be more aware that gay people exist, and are just people. Also, if they do happen to be gay or bisexual then they will probably have an easier time working that out and be less likely to feel shame about it than a child brought up with homophobic parents, or even just one that didn't have an example of a gay adult to look up to.

[Mika]

That's not how sexuality works. If it did, you wouldn't have straight couples with gay kids.

Thanks for your views, I am just trying to understand things. Do you think a child will miss "father" if his/her parents are lesbians and "mother" if his/her parents are gay?

[Jem Smith]

That's not how sexuality works. If it did, you wouldn't have straight couples with gay kids.

Thanks for your views, I am just trying to understand things. Do you think a child will miss "father" if his/her parents are lesbians and "mother" if his/her parents are gay?

Perhaps. At least they would have two parents, unlike the child of a single parent who might miss having the other parent.