Research for documentary - Parenting

When being a parent not many know how difficult it is to actually take care and bring up a child well. Especially when you're a single parent or your child has a disability such as Autism or ADHD. As a teenager myself, I take a lot of what my parents do for granted because as parents it's their responsibility per say. Sometimes it's one sided and a lot of kids don't give back to their parents but I often do repay my parents for what they've done for me. Many children all over the world disrespect their parents and sometimes its parents that disrespect their children.

There are different types of parenting styles. The list below is some of the types of parenting styles and an explanation of what they are.

Authoritarian Parenting - This style of parenting is when children are expected to follow strict rules made by the parents. Failure to follow such rules often result in punishment. Authoritarian parents tend to not explain why they've lain down these rules and when asked to explain why, the parent will often use the reply "Because I said so". These types of parents are very and highly demanding but aren't responsive to their children which means they expect to be obeyed even if they're the ones that are wrong.

Authoritative Parenting - Authoritative parenting is basically the same as Authoritarian parenting and are expected to follow the rules. However, this parenting style is more democratic and means that they are willing to listen to their children and whatever questions. Whenever their children fail to follow their rules, they are nurturing and forgiving rather than punishing. These types of parents are assertive but not intrusive and restrictive. When they discipline their children, their methods are supportive rather than punitive because they want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible and self-reguled as well as cooperative.

Permissive Parents - With this style of parenting, there are very few demands that these types of parents expect from their children. They tend to rarely discipline their children because of how low their expectations of maturity and self-control children and teenagers will display. The parent will take on the role of a friend more than an actual parent as these types of parents are permissive and are generally nurturing.

When becoming a parent, there are many sacrifices that they make. Some sacrifices include:

- Giving up education: If you conceive during high school or if you're older than 18 years of age and still want to take on education and still conceive, you might very well have to give that up to look after your child.

- Free time: Being a parent is a full time job. You can't choose to be a parent one minute and then think "I'll take a break" the next. Sure a sit down is good and nice but if your child is messing about with things that they're not meant to, you're going to have to clean up the mess. Looking after your child at all times means you'll barely have free time.

- Lack of energy: As stated above, parenting is a full time job. Therefore you'll start to lose a lot of energy that you used to have before having kids. It takes a lot of hard work to look after children and will probably leave you energy-less eventually.

- Possibly skipping food: Most of the time parents will skip meals for many reasons whether it be so that their child can eat or just because they're not hungry or simply don't have the time.

- Luxuries for yourself: When you're younger and have money, you buy stuff for yourself. However, when you become a parent that goes out of the window and you'll have to buy things that matter for you and your child such as food, clothing, cleaning equipment etc.