5 Parenting Mistakes from Popular Movies and TV Shows

Raising children is an extremely important and extremely complex matter. Surely you have studied dozens of books in your life, spent many evenings watching online lectures on child psychology, and in addition to everything, you have lost a decent number of nerve cells. Relax – you are good parents. Definitely better than many dads and moms from children’s films.

“The Simpsons”

It’s not that Homer is a bad parent – he doesn’t take part in the upbringing of his children at all. It seems that he still has not noticed that a third child has appeared in the family, and his communication with Bart is limited to attempts to strangle the offspring at moments of conflict.

But worst of all in this family is the middle daughter. The principled, gifted, talented and hardworking Liza does not find understanding in her family at all. Her virtuoso playing the saxophone does not touch her parents, the girl’s high IQ does not cause them any pride.

Such ignoring can cause hostility in the child and push away from the parents. Or, on the contrary, all her life Lisa will try to earn their respect and fight for attention in all possible ways.

If the child differs from you in interests and outlook on life, let him know that you love and appreciate him for who he is.

“The Kid and Carlson Who Lives on the Roof”

Parents are not particularly involved in the Kid – in fact, they always remain somewhere behind the scenes. The older brother and sister are also not interested in the younger ones.

The kid is a very lonely and bored child. And even though he is sweet, polite and well-mannered, relatives remember him only when they need to scold him. On the day he met Carlson, the Kid again received – from his mother for worn out pants, from a strict father – for his late return from school.

That is why the Kid so easily succumbed to the pressure of an unfamiliar plump man “in the prime of his life.” For such a friend of indeterminate age and with an incomprehensible place of residence, a prosperous, but neglected and gullible child is an easy prey.

Carlson incites an eight-year-old child to play with dangerous objects (if you remember, the steam machine exploded), walk on rooftops, steal food, and bully household staff.

The kid tried several times to tell his parents about Carlson, but they did not want to listen to him. And it would be worth it – there is nothing good in the fact that your child seeks approval and acceptance from a suspicious subject. Your child is only yours, therefore, having given it to someone else’s upbringing, do not hope for miracles.

Mulan

Following traditions is, of course, good. But not all people are fashioned from the same dough.

Parents dreamed of making a diligent and meek wife out of Mulan, but the ambitious girl did not dream about this at all. Yes, martial arts may seem like a strange hobby for the daughter of decent parents. But what has grown has grown. For her, becoming a good soldier and a talented commander is definitely better than making breakfast all her life and thinking: “Well, why am I doing this?”

All parents want their children to be successful. But, perhaps, the child will glorify your family not by successfully marrying, but by writing a unique computer code or winning the Olympic Games in swimming. Give your child the freedom to choose.

“Cold heart”

If your child is special, resist the impulse to lock him up and isolate him from the world. If you constantly point out the flaw and repeat to him that he is “not like that”, not allowing himself and his unusualness to be recognized, what happened to Elsa may happen.

Sooner or later, the child will get tired of holding back and explode like a bomb, and then you will run around for a long time, picking up pieces and correcting the consequences. Elsa’s parents should try to figure out with their daughter how to use her “ice gift”.

Then both the girl and her whole family (as well as the whole kingdom) would live much better. And it would not be necessary to adapt to the new Ice Age.

“Game of Thrones”

It’s amazing how strength and integrity change Cersei when it comes to her own offspring. The Iron Lady lets her beloved kids do whatever they want.

Naturally, children, trying to probe the boundaries of what is permitted, completely go crazy and get out of hand. Joffrey completely turns into an extremely unpleasant type – an arrogant and boastful sadist, confident in his own infallibility. A very dangerous set of qualities for a politician.

If Cersei paid more attention to Joffrey, then she could notice much earlier that her son is extremely unpopular with others, and tell him the right course of action. But alas, the whole thing ended with poisoned wine, because people were simply tired of enduring the tricks of their mother’s pet.

Text: Natalia Naumova