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by spaceribs
2511 days ago
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As a kid, when gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts, one of the anti-advocates made the statement on the radio: "I am the gatekeeper for what is appropriate for my child, and the state telling my child that homosexuality is an appropriate lifestyle infringes on my role as a parent". I asked my Dad what he thought of that statement, and he responded that gatekeeper was the completely wrong approach to parenting. The role is closer to a bodyguard or the secret service, you protect from harm and provide context when appropriate, but leave enough room to explore without your biases. Self-sufficiency in ones own behaviors, responsibilities and statements should be your goal, just make sure they have a safe environment to explore and carve their own path. |
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Agreed. In my opinion being a gatekeeper with hard and fast limits often only fuels the wrong outcome. Safety nets and moderation are a core approach in our household. They can do most things with some boundaries and aren't afraid to ask for something outside those boundaries which is often met with a conversation vs just a yes or no answer.