Parents - Do you encourage your kids to be rebels or to fall in line
 

For parents, do you encourage a little rebellion and rulebreaking in your kids or do you expect them to toe the line and constantly be on their best behavior and follow all of the rules?

In this industry, most tend to have a rebellious spirit and I was wondering if that was passed on. My son recently caused a little controversy with the school dress code (Slayer patch on his required collared blue shirt) and part of me was proud of him for kind of cutting his own path, but I also understood that it's important he understands rules and their place. Anyone who knows my oldest son knows this is something really out of the ordinary for him. He has selective mutism and it causes some crippling anxiety problems, but he's found these little bits of rebellion are helping him at times. So it's caused me to explain that rules are important and if he chooses to break the, he also has to be prepared to accept the consequences.

Funny enough for their 13th birthday, I told them to be rebels, as all good teenagers should be.

Then went on about how much of a crazy bastard I was, and how crazy their mother was. I'm sure they'll turn out to be good Republicans as adults. :)

I'm scared to think what my kids will do when they really hit the rebellion phase against me...
probably become divorce attorneys or IRS agents....

i have no kids yet but i may want my child to know and obey rules as much as possible for them to avoid to be in danger...

If thinking for yourself is being a rebel... than that's what I want for my children.

I don't know if "rebel" is the right term. We are teaching our kids to be "independent-thinking free spirits"....yeah, sounds kinda granola-hippie but seems to be working just fine.

Well, as someone who was taught not to step too far out of line while growing up, I can say that those "rebels" are a pain in the ass, and come off as shitty people usually. Not always, there have been folks who I would consider rebels that I love...but if you have someone directly under you like this, look out.

I had to deal with a subordinate(when I had a day job) who was the master of being contradictory, anti-conformist and only marched to beat of his own drummer -- no matter how wrong he was. It was 3 years of hell and I finally had to quit because of this little shit who was probably brought up to question and confront authority by hippie parents.

For the most part, I tell them they have to follow the rules. Particularly when they are my rules!

whtevR...

I encourage children to succeed by any means possible whether it be falling in line or rebelling

respectful empowerment.

I think you did some great parenting here in your explanation. While you want your kids to stand up for what they believe in and build self confidence, you don't want them breaking every rule in the book to do so. That kind of perspective on life just ends up making life harder on them.

The first day I sent my son to day care, a kid tried to take a toy he was playing with. My son punched him.

When I found out, they told me that they told him sternly not to do that again, and said that he would get time out if he did. Now this is a 1.5 year old kid. but he knows what time out is. Anyway I tool him out of the day care,. they never asked me if they could punish him.

There were a few other reasons, but that was a major one.

I don't have any children, but this is something I've given thought to. I'm pretty rebellious and I'm fairly successful but I cut my own path. I know alot of my life choices have definitely made the struggle harder, and while I don't regret any of the decisions I've made, I think it's only natural to want your children to not have to fight as hard as you did.

I haven't gotten around to having kids yet, but I'm definetely of the opinion that you shouldn't stiffle kids. There are limits obviously, but making your kids straight edge causes more problems then avoids them IMO. I think as long as you have an open and honest relationship with them, they will turn out good.

i would want my future child/children to obey the law/rules and regulation. of course no parents would want her kids to be in danger. that's one way to protect them. :)

I'm not talking about anything dangerous...