The Permissive Parenting Style, By Diana Baaumrind

“No.” That was the phrase I heard most while growing up. If I had a nickel for every time my parents said no to me, I would be a millionaire. My parents had me in their mid-forties, so they’re old fashioned when it comes to most things, especially raising kids. Their parents were strict on them, therefore they were strict on me. In hindsight, they were probably punishing themselves more than me since I was an annoying child who needed constant attention. Even in high school, my parents were still strict. There was no hanging out after school with friends or staying out late on weekends. I couldn’t question their judgment or try to get them to change their minds. As my parents always said, “it’s my way or the highway”. Eventually, my mom grew more lenient towards the end

She found that there are three parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative. Strict parenting falls under the authoritarian style, the style of parenting that expects complete obedience and lacks communication with their child.The permissive parenting style is one that lacks discipline and control. Parents who are your best friends and don’t discipline you would be an example of permissive parenting. The authoritative style is a nice median between the authoritarian and permissive style. They’re easy going yet not afraid to discipline their child. Baumrind states that a complication of children who were raised under an authoritarian style of parenting may later rebel and become aggressive. The authoritarian parent uses control and obedience in order to shape their child’s behavior and attitude. This type of parenting believes in keeping the child in its place by “restricting his autonomy, and in assigning household responsibilities in order to inculcate respect for work” (O’ Reilly 2014). They keep their child on a short leash and set rules that their child should follow without