this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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[–] andros_rex@lemmy.world 11 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

I had a wonderful combination of “strict” but also “there aren’t actually rules.”

I could have handled even unreasonable expectations if they had been communicated. But there was no structure at all.

I could ask permission to do something, do it, and then have that permission retroactively revoked. I could have an entirely normal day without anything seeming off, then be grounded for a week because there were dishes in the sink or something.

It never made any sense.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 27 points 9 hours ago (4 children)

There's a difference between strict and abusive.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 25 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

I once cut a small artery above my left elbow right before I left work (We were young and just fucking around) Cant remember my exact age, probably late 16 early 17. I took my undershirt off and tied it around my arm to try to slow the bleeding while I drove home. The blood goes threw the shirt, and is all over the inside car door, seatbelt and created a puddle on my pants in the creases because they were those Dickies work pants that are water resistant. When I got out of the car I heard the blood splat on the ground so I figured it was to much. Went inside tied yarn tightly above it and wrapped an old shirt again around it to replace that one as I didn't have any superglue. I spent the hours of 330am-630am crawling in circles around the house with 2 bottles of resolve, paper towels and wet rags in a bucket trying to clean blood drops off the carpets and floors from when I walked in. The entire time dropping more blood in a near endless cleanup chain with only one thought on my mind. My mother is going to fucking kill me for getting blood on her carpets. At 630 (they open at 7), dizzy as all get out from lack of sleep and blood loss I got back in my car to drive to the clinic just hoping no one pulled me over or I passed out driving. I got there with a blood soaked rag wrapped around my arm and the lady handed me a 2 page clipboard to fill out and I remember staring at her with an expression that clearly said, can't I fill this out while he stitches my arm? Of course not, so 5 minutes later I hand her a clip board mostly free of blood and paperwork that says I have no insurance.

The clinic doctor was great. Told him I had no insurance and couldn't afford anesthetic and asked if he could just do it without. He cleaned it a bit, poked me with a needle of some kind and put in 7 or so stitches. Then marked it down as a consult or something, so I wasn't charged with any of the items he needed/used. (Like $40 for the visit)

I'll always remember that guy. Moral/point of the story though... If you are less afraid of bleeding to death than you are to ask your parents for help, your parents might be abusive as opposed to strict.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

That's a perfect example of where it isn't strict, it's abuse. Or at least right on the border.

Also, damn. I'm sorry you went through that. I'm just glad you found a doc that handled things right.

[–] trxxruraxvr@lemmy.world 3 points 2 hours ago

That is nowhere near the border. If your kid rather bleeds out than facing you because they got some blood on the carpet you're far in abusive territory

[–] elephantium@lemmy.world 21 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

This post is starting to make me think people say "strict" strictly as a euphemism.

What I think it means: The parents never bend the rules for their kids.

What it apparently means: The parents have anger problems.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 12 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

The problem is it's often difficult to admit you had abusive parents, and abusive parents love to describe themselves as just strict. So yeah it's kinda a euphemism

[–] elephantium@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Oof, that's a sobering realization.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Yeah. And a lot of parental abuse happens in gray areas and with good intentions. Sure you have obvious cases, and they're common enough I'd suspect most people know someone or another who was a victim to one. But there's a hell of a lot of parents projecting their fears, traumas, or other issues relating to their kids onto them hard enough to fuck them up.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 hours ago

Yeah, it's a thing. Word usage varies. One range of the various usages of strict is adhering to, or enforcing adherence to, a set of rules. It can also mean that part of "strict" is enforcing discipline to maintain those rules.

Taken to its extreme, it edges into authoritarian behaviors. But the usual, more typical usage would be far less extreme.

As an example, ever hear of a strict vegetarian? That just means that don't deviate from the diet. That's it.

The problem comes in when the usage of it as unnecessary, arbitrary, and cruel enforcement of rules for their own sake takes over. There are plenty of abusive people that would call themselves strict, despite violating boundaries and social mores in the process, which means they're just pretending.

But there is a difference between a kid being tightly supervised and abuse. There's an even bigger difference for having expectations for a kid's behavior and activity and abuse. Both of those are strict, but not abuse.

The key to that difference is usually in how boundaries are handled. You also get different outcomes, and if the methodology being used isn't adjusted to the individual kid, it's often going to feel abusive no matter what the intent is.

Not all kids are going to respond the same way to any parenting methodology. Twins can even respond differently. So you absolutely have to be ready to adjust what you're strict about and how that's applied if you want to stay in line with the right balance of structure, support, and freedom. What one kid thrives with, the next may utterly reject and be harmed in the attempt.

[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 1 points 7 hours ago

Both are dumb as shit

[–] buttnugget@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

Strict is only "bad" when the structure is bad.

Being strict about not playing with fire is a good thing. Being strict about never going near a campfire is, at best neutral, and could be bad when taken to an extreme. Being strict about never going camping is bad.

Strict only means keeping rules in place. It doesn't mean you can't be flexible, that you can't adjust rules as the kid ages and matures. It definitely doesn't mean the rules have to be arbitrary and can't be explained and discussed.

You think being strict about a kid not using racial slurs is a bad thing?

Or making them see a doctor regularly and as needed?

Or that they bathe?

The list of things that can't be negotiable is very long if you go into detail.

The list of things that can't be negotiable at a given level of age and maturity isn't short either.

Strict doesn't have to be done badly at all. It's just that uncompromising strictness is the opposite end of a slider from utter laissez faire. Which has just as many flaws.

There's a reason that authoritative is the usual recommended goal; it's being strict when necessary, and loose when not. But "strict" is part of that. Strict is making sure that there's a reliable structure a kid can build a foundation of self on. It's the walls of the sandbox and the sheet of material under out that keeps weeds from poking through.

The sandbox of development is the freedom to play within those boundaries. It doesn't have to mean all noes, or all have tos.

Strict is, "you'll do your homework because it's part of the process of learning. When do you want to do it, and what can I do to help?"

Abusive is "you'll do your homework or I'll beat your ass", and then beating their ass as the first and only option.

[–] Draedron@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Being strict with a few select things is fine. Being a strict parent is not. That means being strict with everything.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 hours ago

Well, no, it doesn't mean that. That is one meaning out of a solid eight or nine, depending on what dictionary you use.

Also, seems like you're being pretty strict about what it and isn't strict. If you're that inflexible about that, what else are you inflexible about?

[–] buttnugget@lemmy.world 0 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

There is a difference between strict and abusive.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 hours ago

That's literally what I said originally

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 11 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Btw, is there any laws against pissing on a grave, just wanna prepare for when my parents die.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)
[–] DancingBear@midwest.social 4 points 7 hours ago

If it is your own parents grave I’m fairly certain you can claim you were mourning and had to go

[–] walktheplank@lemmy.world 9 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (3 children)

What is strict? When I was a kid that was a wooden spoon or a belt. Across the backside or hands. As well as a long list of chores. The strap still hung on the wall of the principal's office at school as a warning but didn't get used anymore. Mostly suspensions and expulsions were the flavor of the day.

I got called a strict parent on Lemmy not so long ago because we limit screen time in our house to an hour a day with some exceptions. Our kids walk to town alone at 10 years old though (2 km one way) and have the knowledge and awareness to manage on their own. We trust them and they in turn make mostly good choices. They are kids after all.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 1 points 1 minute ago

I got paddled once at school in 6th grade (this was in the '70s when they still did that shit). Two whacks for talking during class or maybe it was because my desk was messy. The teacher let me choose between two paddles (an evil all by itself) and I foolishly chose the one with holes drilled in it (which leads to greater whack speed and less surface area hit). She took me out in the hall and her first blow missed badly - hit me on my hamstrings behind my knees and they kept hurting for days. She said "oh that one doesn't count" and hit me on my ass twice more.

Weirdly enough, she had marched with Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights era and played his "I Have a Dream" speech for the class (not on the say day as my paddling, though).

Also, strict doesn't necessarily equal bad in the first place

[–] Draedron@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Is it unusual for 10 year old kids to walk around alone where you are from? Its quite old to just atart with that here. Many kids go to school alone from first grade onwards.

[–] walktheplank@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Yes It's unusual for parents to allow their ten year old kids to walk that far alone in our rural area and spend hours away unsupervised in a busy tourist town. It never used to be but the influence of American society via tv radio movies and more inundating people in Canada every day has certainly changed opinions like this. We got phone calls when they were little playing outside in the yard on their own. A coyote was going to eat them. Now we get calls that someone will kidnap them. It's rather ridiculous. There have been decades of cop shows and news reports telling folks people are bad. Now they really believe that.

[–] Draedron@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 hours ago

Thats so sad

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 11 points 11 hours ago

Perfect training for a lifetime of unfulfilling work for insecure bosses!

[–] Pacattack57@lemmy.world 27 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Ok but tbf those are all great skills to have

[–] Botunda@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Our parents used to lock up the TV, their room, and food. Guess who got really good at breaking into things and making it look like anything was amiss

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago

Add subterfuge and sneaking and it's ninja training

[–] peteyestee@feddit.org 42 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (4 children)

My parents were strict about things that didn't matter. They taught swear words and being gay was bad but never taught me anything about surviving life or making money or managing hobbies or anything having to do with self growth or independence.

They limited my ability to grow. Along with society at the time and then blamed me when for it when I became an adult and was socially dysfunctional.

It's weird... If you're not teaching your kids no one really is. They'll end up learning from entertainment or people taking advantage of them. But still people have kids like it's a set it and forget it process and then blame the kid/person for not knowing x thing.

[–] DakRalter@thelemmy.club 1 points 53 minutes ago

I'm having the exact same issue. Never taught me any life skills. My mum was told by the GP to get me tested for aspergers (as it was then) when I was 15, and she sat on that for over 10 years. Meanwhile I grew up hating myself for not being able to do things that my peers could. Things got worse when I had to get a job and I didn't have the social knowledge to pass interviews. My self esteem got worse, my anxiety ruled my life. I would keep attracting men who treated me like dirt and I couldn't let go because I was so desperate for someone to love and accept me.

She passed away three months ago and now my dad wants to kick me out and I have no freaking idea how to survive in the adult world. I don't know how to go about renting or setting up utilities, I struggle with navigation so my fear of getting lost stops me going places. I'm going to have to leave London because I can't afford a place here. All I get is, when are you moving out? Dad wants to sell the house. It's not fair to deprive your sisters of their share of the house. No offers of help. No acknowledgement that decades of my mum wrapping me in cotton wool and controlling me has left me dysfunctional.

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[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 178 points 20 hours ago (2 children)
[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 81 points 20 hours ago (5 children)

The most important office skill was taught by George Costanza: look angry and people will think you're busy working hard.

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[–] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 38 points 17 hours ago (2 children)
[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

The difference can often be negligible to a child's eyes depending on how 'strict' lessons are worded or otherwise expressed. If it is always with scolding after a lack of instruction turned in to idle entertainment that went awry, it sometimes doesn't really matter how relevant the information was.

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[–] Armand1@lemmy.world 73 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (3 children)

This one hits a little too close to home...

Also, the word you're looking for might be "abusive" rather than "strict".

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 11 points 8 hours ago

Extreme strictness is a form of abuse. These symptoms are particular, though not individually exclusive, to strictness. As long as you "behave" you avoid the material effects of the abuse. Other forms of abuse typically have fewer "rules" that can be used as safeguards.

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[–] collapse_already@lemmy.ml 5 points 12 hours ago

A girl I knew in high school had parents that didn't let her do very much. She got pregnant her first semester of undergrad. I think she also experimented with some drugs, but I don't have first hand knowledge of that, just rumors.

[–] hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 15 hours ago

That's not strict, that's abusive.

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