I have 6 kids. I realized I can't, and shouldn't, parent them all the same way.
A mother of six reflects on her realization that effective parenting requires tailoring rules and expectations to each child's unique personality rather than applying a uniform standard. She argues that fairness is not about treating children identically, but about meeting their individual needs.
Why it matters
This perspective challenges traditional parenting norms and offers a nuanced view on child development and family dynamics.
The author (top left) is a month of six. She said she realized she shouldn't parent all of her kids the same way. Courtesy of Nicole Schildt. I thought being a good mother meant being fair and treating all of my kids the same way. But each of my six kids has different personalities and abilities and needs their own set of rules. It can be hard for my kids at times, but I am no longer compelled to make everything even. For years, I thought being a good mother meant being a fair mother . And being fair, I assumed, meant treating all of my children exactly the same. With six kids, this seemed especially important. I didn't want anyone keeping score — or, more accurately, I didn't want to give them anything to keep score about.
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