My Child My Rules

Parenting is one of those adventures where you learn a lot along the way. What works for one child does not work for all children even within a family. Children are not clones of each other. I knew that even before I became a stepmother. My parents were the ones who taught me that by their actions although I did get verbal confirmation later.

I know my daughter. I know her likes and dislikes pretty well. I know what she is scared of and what she loves. I also know her level of maturity and what topics are not appropriate for her at this time. I know what she is passionate about and what she could really care less about. I listen to her and learn about her.

I know she does not care for zombies at all. Hasn’t her entire life starting with her really not liking the game Plants vs. Zombies and, to this day, having no interest in the Walking Dead or any other zombie related entertainment.

I know she loves Steven Universe with a fiery passion that has not dimmer since she first saw it. She loves the characters and the concept. She and her friends discuss endlessly what they think is going to happen next to which is their favorite Gem or Gem fusion to who would win in a fight. At San Diego Comic Con, she got to meet Rebecca Sugar who created the show and tell her how much the show meant to her. She also got to tell the cast and crew about it. And they were very interested in what she had to say since she was their demographic to a “t”.

I know she loves to read all kinds of things. This morning she was reading her way through Time magazine and the Week. She took the Time with her to finish an article she was reading. She loves comic books and manga too. She loved books. I can usual find her with some form of reading material in her hand.

She loves to draw and be creative. For her it is like breathing and I can so understand that. I have watched her focus when she is working on something and it is intense.

She doesn’t care for make-up or the in clothing. She would rather be comfortable than fashionable. That I think she gets from me since I don't really care for make-up unless I am doing theatrical make-up. She does like dresses and skirts which I still have never understood the purpose of. She has her own sense of fashion and she wears it proudly.

I know what I will let her watch and what I won’t and it doesn’t always match up with others in her peer group. But they are not my children, she is and I am looking out for her. I ask parents about films that she wants to watch with her friends to make sure that their parents are all right with what their children are seeing. Same with books that she wants to lend out or even graphic novels.

I may not understand the reasoning of other parents, but I respect their wishes regarding their children and I hope that they respect mine.

I know my child and, I think, I know what is best for her, which is probably not what other parents think is the best for their child and that is fine. We have different experiences and social mores that shape us as parents which in turn shapes our children.

I am grateful that Caroline will talk to me about her life.