Raising punk kids

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Permalink Reply by RED REBEL on January 31, 2009 at 11:53am

growing up i got a whole grab bag of reactions from my family. of course there was those who didnt care, or were too polite to say anything...to my face. that really didnt bother me much as it was typically extended family i didnt see much anyways. my mother was supportive in her own way. it always went a lil something like why are you doing that? because i want to while siting my good grades, community service, maturity, and responsibility as the product of open expression and acceptance. that usually shut up the home branch. my two younger sisters, at first rejected my "anti-ghetto" as they called it, approach to style. but i think who i was despite my appearance made the difference with them. Now they both have tattoos and piercings...Im really tired of them getting the same piercings! Now its not really an issue and im trying to get my mother to get a tattoo. I got her to pierce her ears!!!

when it comes to my children anything goes. their father and i are both pretty liberal minded and want our children to be so as well. i tell my daughter regularly to question authority...being bigger, older, smarter, or whatever doesnt always make you right. and what is right for you may not be right for me. everything from what she eats to what she wears is a choice, but mom and dad have override. nothing is ever just no, but no because. as much as i hate to say it she is a pink loving princess and i dont see her being a metal head like her ma. although when it comes to her musical stylings its tool over pop any day of the week!! and i love that. she has asked for tattoos and piercings. she is totally aware of whats involved as she has seen her fair share of both. she wants a lip ring and a tat on her back...pink and purple butterfly of course. my son is just a year so we will see, but i plan to take the same approach with him.

Permalink Reply by Da' Bladewielder on February 1, 2009 at 3:54pm

I'm raising my son (he's 17 and high school senior) to think for himself and not take what the family or society dictates what is acceptable.
My parents had a harder time dealing with my love for photography (can't make a living--get a real job) & my punkness--tattoos, short nappy hair/dreadlocks, more than two earrings in one ear, ripped jeans/t-shirts . That was in the 80's. Ever since then they have been trying to change me with snide comments, but I'm still the same--older 'n wiser and my son thinks its great that I've raise him to live a life less ordinary.
Stay strong , honest with your kids and they will follow your lead

Permalink Reply by Adria on September 9, 2009 at 11:47pm

I was lucky enough to have a supportive mother, everyone else either tolerated or did not approve. Mom never questioned my hair color ("it's just hair, it doesn't change who you are!" she would say), my clothes, she didn't care! She knew who I was and that she raised me well enough to not act a damn fool in public, so it was nothing to her. And that's what I plan to do with my daughter. She's only four, but showing some signs of individuality and I encourage her to be herself. It will always be to me what it was to my mom; as long as she's not hurting herself or someone else it's not even an issue. There's worse to worry about when raising kids!

It's awesome that your daughter has YOU for backup.

Permalink Reply by XiaMin on September 16, 2009 at 2:54am

Thanks! Hopefully one day my daughter will say the same thing you did, that she was lucky enough to have a supportive mother :)

Adria said:

I was lucky enough to have a supportive mother, everyone else either tolerated or did not approve. Mom never questioned my hair color ("it's just hair, it doesn't change who you are!" she would say), my clothes, she didn't care! She knew who I was and that she raised me well enough to not act a damn fool in public, so it was nothing to her. And that's what I plan to do with my daughter. She's only four, but showing some signs of individuality and I encourage her to be herself. It will always be to me what it was to my mom; as long as she's not hurting herself or someone else it's not even an issue. There's worse to worry about when raising kids!

It's awesome that your daughter has YOU for backup.

Permalink Reply by Satra Sia on November 29, 2009 at 5:46pm

Wow

You took me back to when I wanted to become a ballarina I was told no "it's for white girls" but I just think my mom couldn't afford it. I will also tell my daughter to become whomever she wants also to be positive and honest.

Hell when I cut out my perm and put tiny box braids all over I got laughed at and called Lauryn Hill, when I wore head wraps I was called Badu in H.S. so you have to step out and be your bold true self....lolz

And that fact that you are supportive to your daughters changes is great because a little support goes a long way...

Permalink Reply by Alison Cecile Johns on March 30, 2010 at 5:28pm

good job on validating the girl!

Permalink Reply by 3ri5xqnnu48l6 on January 12, 2012 at 8:42pm

I came from a single parent household and my mom just tolerated my differences. I had a "fuck people fuck the world" attitude because I was always misunderstood. Now that I have my son I encourge him to "lovalot" if you listen to M.I.A you'll understand

Permalink Reply by AyRi Sol on July 3, 2012 at 1:12pm

my eldest is 16 now and stretching her indepentie/creative muscles. my policy is as long as it's not permanent, have at it. wanna shave ur head bald, go for it. dye it blue & green- let me help u out. henna & sharpie tattoos, have a blast. childhood is the time for finding urself.

as a child i always felt caught between 2 worlds. my sense of style didn't match up with my musical taste (at least according to everyone else) called oreo or such.... i always felt judged by both worlds. my mum was awesome enough to let me find my own way- with the occasional side eyed glance. if u instill a sense of power in self, your duty as parent is almost fulfilled. all we can do is give them the tools they will need to live and thrive. a strong sense of self and self love are crucial- especially when it comes to lil (and not so lil) girls.