Why parents are sometimes strict?

“Spare the rod and spoil the child.” Said Samuel Butler in his poem Hudibras. Discipline. Nowadays, parents choose to be strict for many reasons. Parents may be strict because of the mistakes they had in the past. There are some parents that were raised strictly so they continue the trend. They feel or believe that their parents raised them this way because they wanted the trend to past on. But most parents are strict because they care for their children.

For example, if your parents make your curfew 10 p.m. and not midnight, your parents know that you'll be sharing the road with fewer drunk drivers on your way home. When they limit your phone or computer time, they get you in the habit of living a balanced life, so that you'll manage your time better as an adult. When they make you stay and wash every last dish before you go out, they're teaching you how to be responsible later on. The list could go on.

Though it may sound odd, children of incredibly strict parents have also been shown to be more likely to develop weight problems. Based on data gathered from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, researcher Kyung E. Rhee determined that children with overly strict parents were nearly five times more likely to be obese. One cause for this statistic is thought to be that children of strict parents rely on ideas like "clean your plate" or food as rewards, instead of eating healthy, or until full.

Mark J. Penn in his book “Microtrends” writes about strict parents vs. permissive parents. He brings out a 2006 poll and statistics to show that no matter which group of parents are polled, “most parents think they’re tough”. 52% of parents think say they are strict vs. 37% who say they are permissive. 91% say “most parents today are too easy on their kids” vs. only 3% who say “most parents today are too strict.” So Penn clarifies: “We’ve got a bunch of parents who think that they’re strict, but no one else is. The truth is, they’re only half-right. Today in America, nearly all parents are more permissive with their kids than in generations past. When it comes to permissiveness, today’s parents are, like the title of a popular book, in a state of denial.”

“It is necessary.” Responds a 28 year-old woman on the question: ‘Why are parents, sometimes, strict?’ “I am a mother of three and rules for my kids are set in place for good reason. For either their safety or teach them discipline, respect or even dignity. There are other many reasons why we have to be firm and strict at times, but I can honestly say that my motive for this is for the concern and wellbeing of my children. My mom was a single parent who worked two jobs and there were no cell phones at the time, but she was always in my business. She randomly called home and I better be there to pick up the phone or she would come home from work immediately. These are the same expectations I have for my children so you better believe I will be in their business. Teens are young adults, but their brain is still not mature enough to make clear decisions about everything” She finishes. Parents are strict because they care for their children. We can conclude that parents just want to conduct their kids through the right path because they need guidance as much as they need freedom.