Alyson's "Tell-All" Interview with ParentDish.com

Shelley White of ParentDish.com recently interviewed me for her blog. Usually when I am called by a journalist they want to ask me about something topical like how to potty train, or tips on choosing a summer camp.  

Weirdly enough, Shelley ask me about my parenting and life as a parent educator. What the!?!  If you want a peak at the "tell-all" tale of how I screwed up with the tooth fairy and swimming lessons, check it out here.  Oh there was so much more dirt that could have been unloaded.  Thanks for taking the hush money Shelley. Phew - PR crisis averted.

Comments

[Louise]

So it's true, you really ARE just like the rest of us parents out there!! I knew it! Thanks for making me smile so early in the morning.

[nonplus]

I'm confused about the last question in the interview, the one about the backlash against "soft" parenting. Your answer there seems to support the backlash and possibly agreeing with the spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child crowd.

From my experience (living in the southern United States), such backlash tends to come from people espousing authoritarian parenting who don't differentiate between permissive (is that what you meant by "soft"?) and authoritative parenting and lump them in the same group.

For all I know, "soft" parenting means something different in Canada. Can you please clarify?

[Alyson Schafer]

Thanks for the question so I can clarify my position. I refer to three broad classifications of parenting styles: Autocratic / Authoritative / Permissive
also referred to by Barbara Colorasso as Brick Wall / Back Bone / Jelly Fish

I have a hard time tripping on my tongue and confusing the sounds of "autocratic and authoritarian" and so I just go for the term " Democratic" which has different meanings in the United States than it does in Canada.

The idea is that I believe that parents need to be BOTH firm AND Friendly at the same time.

I hope that clears up any confusion!
Alyson