Will Smith and Jada on Parenting

People magazine recently interviewed Jada Pinkett at an event, and the topic of her and Will’s parenting style came up, to which she responded:

“I think that old school style of; ‘I’m your parent and I’m greater than you’ doesn’t work. What I establish with my children is a partnership. I’m not necessarily dictating what is happening in their lives. By instilling in the power of individuality, we … communicate with our kids in a way that our message overpowers any other message that they get out there. Our children … they feel like we really care and they come to us and go, ‘Mommy, I’m having this problem,’ and it’s like, ‘Okay, let’s figure this out together.’ And it empowers them.”

I was smiling ear-to-ear as I read this. I have always admired Will and Jade and their approach to their family.  Taking a collaborative approach to parenting is in my opinion this most effective way to raise independent young adults. The naysayers out there disagree and think we shouldn’t treat children like adults, but I think they are missing the point.

This type of parenting is not about treating children like adults, it is about believing your children are capable of solving their own problems, about believing that you are worthy of respect whatever your age and about believing that together you are mush stronger than alone. This is how I have brought my children up and they are amazing, even if I do say so myself, however every parent I know that has parented in this way has the best-behaved and polite children you could meet. The naysayers would have us think that this is a permissive style of parenting, but it is not. These parents have high standards, expect a lot from their children and give a lot in return and I think Jade says it all it is about having a relationship that is so strong that your message overpowers any other message they might be hearing. If that is bad parenting well, you may as well lock me up now!