There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to parenting. Sure, there are hundreds of books out there that promise the definitive way to raise your child, but there is no one-size-fits-all parenting advice. Perhaps we should assume there are some good, simple guidelines, though. The Golden Rule – do unto others as you’d have done unto you – is a good place to start. Be polite, compassionate, helpful. These, too, are good traits to instill in your child. I would even venture to say that an important nugget would be what Polonius said to Laertes: “To thine own self be true.”
This last one was certainly taken to heart by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. When asked in a BBC 1xtra interview by A.Dot about his and his wife’s parenting style, especially with regard to son Jaden’s eccentric choices, Smith stated they encourage their son to be “comfortable doing things that you could fail.” He added:
Jaden is 100 percent fearless, he will do anything. As a parent it’s scary, it’s really terrifying, but he is completely willing to live and die by his artistic decisions and he doesn’t concern himself with what people think.
Finding that delicate balance between too much attention on your child, and not enough is important. But is it possible to be too hands-off?
Watch the interview and let us know what you think in the comments!
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