Parenting Styles In The Movie Parenthood

The movie Parenthood cover’s many of the topics we have discussed this semester in class. But it obviously focused very strongly on parenting and marriage. During the course of the movie we see the four Buckman children’s very different style of parenting. Although all four were raised by the same parents the culture of their individual families are all look very different. Gil Buckman felt abandoned and ignored by his father and therefore responded, with his wife Karen, by being a very active and attentive parent. Gil and Karen are on the authoritative end of the parenting spectrum, and their families’ culture revolves around activities such as baseball games, Kevin’s baseball game, Birthday parties, school plays and basically having fun together (Lecture, 4/22). On the opposite end of the parenting spectrum are Nathan and Susan. They are very authoritarian and reminded me of the “tiger Mom’s” of China. The culture of their family means that they don’t have their daughter in preschool, they are waiting a prescribed amount of time to have a second child and Nathan is continuously drilling facts into their daughter. Susan feels like she should be playing with children her own age but Nathan’s feelings have taken over their family’s culture.

Family is like a roller coaster and is always changing and adapting as is needed. One day, a family may be permissive and allow their children to do as they please. However, the next day, the parents may feel it is necessary to use a dictatorial style where everything they say is essentially the law of the house. The last parenting style, authoritative, is when the rules are consistent and the parents are flexible. Depending on which of these styles a parent uses, the child will grow up in a different atmosphere that can influence their personality. This is the idea of nurture, whereas the idea of nature would be that the genetics of the parents, not their parenting style, is what decides the children’s characteristics. Arguably, authoritative parenting is the most effective and reliable, whereas permissive parenting can lead to a lack of stability within a family.

The movie Parenthood revolves primarily around the three generations of the Buckman family. The family is rooted from Frank, who is the patriarch of the Buckmans. Him and his wife Marilyn are the parents of four adults, Gil, Helen, Susan and Larry. Their four children have also developed families of their own. Gil, their eldest son, is married to Karen. Together they are raising three children, Kevin, Taylor and Justin. Helen is a single mother of two teenagers, Julie and Gary. Susan is married to Nathan, who raises their daughter Patty with the goal of educating her into a child prodigy. Lastly, the youngest son of Frank, Larry, is unmarried but has recently just discovered his three year old son. Together, the two generations of offsprings of Frank and Marilyn Buckman demonstrate Alfred Adler’s Birth Order Theory.

Authoritative parents set high goals for their children and encourage more responsibility and freedom, within well-outlined rules. It is said that children of authoritative parents usually grow up to be very independent, socially successful, and respectful of authority.

• Authoritative parenting is attentive to their children’s needs and will typically forgive and teach versus punishment for the child’s short comings. The result is the children have a higher self-esteem and independence. This is most recommended parenting style by experts.

Authoritative parents are supportive of their children and this style is deemed the most beneficial and effective parenting style used today (“Pros and Cons”, n.d.). The style creates a healthy environment for children and this style helps foster a productive relationship between children and their parents. Children with authoritative parents tend to have a high self-esteem. Furthermore, communication between parties is excellent, and that is what makes it a popular style for parents. The authoritative parenting style creates clear rules, but there is leeway and exceptions within the rules. There are no obvious negatives with this parenting style. However, a mischievous child may try to take advantages of his parents that use this style. Danny’s parents would talk to him about how the ball broke the window, and they would suggest that next time he plays in another area of the yard. The authoritative style is the most preferred style in society

Research indicates that about one-third of all parents use authoritative style of parenting. Regardless of the preferred style, varying factors such as culture, the temperament of the child and parent, and parental status will influence the interactive process of that style. Most parents could benefit from knowledge and information of these style to improve their parenting skills.Parenting style is a pattern of behavior that influences child-rearing practices. Approaches vary based on several factors, ranging from how parents themselves were raised to the goals parents have for their children.

I would categorize my parenting style as an authoritative because I show the characteristics listed with this style. An authoritative parent is defined as being firm, setting clear and consistent limits, but who try to reason with their children, giving explanations for why they should behave in a particular way (Feldman & Landry, 2017, pg. 172). I also want what’s best by making sure Bebe Jay grows to be respectful and friendly and with this style of parenting it is more than likely he will. The authoritative parenting style is also apart of my personality and beliefs that you should let children be children and guide them, but to discipline as well if they start to act out inappropriately. It isn’t all about raising them to be good people,

When it come to raising kids people will never know how to do it correctly. The child will still throw tantrums, the teen will still give attitude, and the young adult will insists on going to a 4 year university. All children hit these milestones no matter what kind of parents they have. There are many ways to raise a child. Every person has a way of doing things that they deem right. Looking deeper in the process of raising a child or teen will reveal so much. “...keep in mind that every parent child relationship is different, so there is not one sure fire way to go about parenting.”( Rachel Telles, and Bianca Mgbemere.) Parenting is put into 4 general categories. Authoritarian, permissive, neglectful and authoritative. People fall into these categories, but there are a select few that don't. The two drastically different ones will be compared and contrasted. When it comes to parenting trying to find that happy medium between Authoritarian and permissive is the best possible thing to do for both parent and child.

Jeff and Barbara made an appointment to discuss their concerns regarding their 12-year-old son Billy. During our meeting I learn that Jeff and Barbara have been divorced for 10 years and share 50/50 custody. They report that Billy is acting disrespectfully by talking back and is resistant to performing simple tasks that are asked of him. They also have started receiving reports from his teachers that he has not been turning in homework assignments. Jeff and Barbara share pertinent information about their views of discipline and I ascertain that they are highly responsive to Billy but are low on demandingness, a characteristic of a permissive parenting style (Broderick and Blewitt, 2010). Both parents agree that they find it difficult to say

However, authoritative parenting style has no effect with children when children grow up. Children can be scolded or punished when they do in the wrong ways. Therefore, authoritative parenting style sometimes is not a good way to nurture children.

There is an enormous amount of information about parenting styles. According to Baumrind there are four styles of parenting, which are, authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting (as cited in Kail and Cavanaugh, 2012, pg. 250). Authoritarian parenting means you exercise a lot of control over the child with little to no concern for the child 's opinion. The parents establish strict guidelines for the child with the threat of repercussions if not followed. Authoritative parenting combines a fair degree of parental control with being warm and responsive to children ( Kail and Cavanaugh, 2012, pg. 250). This is the parenting style recommended by most people, as studies have shown this parenting style reared children better who are better equipped with social skills

In authoritative parenting style, there is a mutual respect between the child and the parent. There is also negotiation and dialogue involved. The parent

Authoritative parenting is being assertive, but understanding what the child is going through. I think it is the best form of parenting because it is a mixture of being a parent and a friend, while the child learns clear boundaries and right from wrong. Some advantages that this parenting style has is that the child begins to learn from their mistakes while also gaining independence. Authoritative parenting also helps the child be more confident and social, which can help much later in life. In my situation, a good show of authoritative parenting would be grounding my child for breaking curfew, after hearing what happened and why he was out so late. It shows a mixture of enforcing the rules that were set, while also giving a chance to understand the child’s perspective. If my child had stayed out so late because they were trying to take care of someone that was too drunk, or if it was because he was drunk and did not want to drive, that would change the punishment. I would explain to him that he should have called us, because we are adults and could have come to help, but breaking curfew is still breaking curfew. At this age, this style of parenting would not spank the child, but under certain circumstances when the child was younger I think that they would spank the child. If they did spank the child it would have to be a time after the incident had occurred, so it does not seem like I am hitting my child out of anger.

When set expectations are not met by the children the parents do not necessarily inflict punishment, yet rather become more nurturing and forgiving (Douglas, 2017). This style establishes guidelines and rules that the children are expected to follow as parents communicate and monitor clear standards for the manner in which the children should conduct themselves (Darney, 2015). Authoritative parents are generally more responsive to their children and implement discipline methods that are not punitive yet are rather supportive. Authoritative parents are not intrusive nor restrictive yet rather assertive (Darney, 2015).