Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yeah... it's sad to see what some parents make excuses for, when often it's just a case of lacking/permissive parenting. neutral Your example included.

My brother was playing M rated video games before he was 14 or 15. Yet his excuse what something like "Yeah well I've played them before, so it's ok", and whenever I was allowed to do something, my brother said he should be allowed to do it too. My mom (well, both parents) gave up discipline many years ago, but I bet they'd be surprised if they knew some of the stuff my brother and I have been up to over the years.

Making yourself a part of your child's life makes all the difference.

My parents went to far the other direction. The only video game we ever owned was pong gonk . We weren't really allowed to watch tv either when we were little, but I actually think that was a good idea. Ofcourse now my brothers and sister watch TV like crazy. Hee Hee xd

Yeah, my husband says that he grew up always watching TV and playing video games and he wishes in hindsight, it hadn't been like that. He did go outside and play with friends too, but he said he was just too much on the TV and he said his little brother was the same way. We didn't watch much TV growing up - we watched cartoons and whatnot, but my sister and I were always playing games, making up our own, reading, etc. My Dad had built us computers (from the old computer kits originally and then regular ones), so we had computer games, but we really weren't on them much. But I agree, I think that it's the parents' job to teach the kids about right and wrong and about what they see on TV and stuff.

I wasn't allowed to watch Rated R movies either. I remember the first one I ever saw - Navy Seals - I went with a friend and I was like 12 or something. I felt so guilty sitting in the theatre because I knew my parents didn't know! lol.

My parents always had this thing about everyone having to sit together at dinner time, but nowadays no one is at home together at the same time, so its usually just jeff and I who eat with my mum.
Its sad really....but we all have to eat together on a sunday still, thats a big rule.

Ok, and on that thing Nikolita was talkign about.. how her little brother felt entitled because she was allowed something. Now, I will just say upfront.. I only have one child.. It can be said I don't understand because I don't know what it's like to manage multiple children in teh house. However, I would like to say I am the oldest of four children. Ok well. forgive me if this seems long, and rather opinionated... but, I see it a lot at work, and I had a friend with 4 kids.. the 2 middle ones both boys. They are only a year or two apart. Everything the older ones does.. the younger wants to do. The mom does nothign about it. She smacks the older one and tells him to let the younger brother do whatever he wants. I see this a lot at work when it's one kids birthday.. they had giftcards given to them at their party.. so they shop.. and the parent feels they HAVE to get the other child something JUST BECAUSE the child whose birthday stuff it is getting stuff.....

I think it is really important for parents to teach their children, starting with their siblings as those are the best lessons they have, just because someone else gets something... doesn't make them entitled to anything. In fact, children who are always given into with these situations, they tend to develop a rather entitled disposition they disrespect everyone else with. They feel everyone should have to cater to them, and the people who they are encrouching on.. they have no respect. I mean.. there are three years between me and the next sibling.. and I shared a room with my sister who is six years younger than me for years.

One thing I think our parents did really right with us is that we were each always given days that were our own. My mom would make "date nights" with each of us. One night a month, each of us would go out with her. We'd get to pick what we did, and none of the others were allowed to go or complain as they woudl get their turn another time. Also, we were all always had our own toys. I'm not saying sharing isn't important. It has its placed, but it really isnt' about sharing anymore after a while. Because the child practicing disrespectful behavior like that isn't doing any sharing.. Only the one child ends up doing it. One child ends up always have to give slack and stuff... while the other one just keeps taking and taking.

Ok. Sorry for the rant.. but it just really bothers me... I have been at my friends house for parties and stuff. When I see it go on, I see the son who always gets walked all over. It really is giving him issues, and come when they are older, there is going to get pretty nasty. Because when they grow up, it will still happen. Instead of the parents making him give anything, the brother taking will just insinuate himself into anything he wants.. and it will go from toys to maybe girls or other areas of their life. [end rant.. and I apologize if my views sound misguided.]