We've all heard the stories (or could be an example).. of kids being brought up in rigid (perhaps Dogmatic) environments, being absolute rebels.

On the flipside, children of Hippies I've witnessed being completely regimented (which I guess if a form of rebellion as well).

How much leeway were you allowed as a child? How do you think it effected you for better or worse? Got any good Catholic School Girl Jokes?

I came from a mildly strict yet conservative background, got into quite a bit of trouble in my teen years but my upbringing was great & i am glad & fortunate enough to have brought up that way

I had a great childhood.. The youngest of 3 and only girl ; small town values - played outdoors in the summer; joined community programs (4-H, CGIT); parents didn't fight, they showed affection; no drama growing up..
a great example to follow and make for my children..

I had a great childhood too. Go outside and play. Check in when the streetlights come on. Respect your elders and be a good representative of your family...

Still, I was allowed a LOT!!! Sometimes I wonder if I should have had my butt kicked a bit more.

There was no facebook or any of this social media stuff when i was growing up, it was the late 80s and 90s after all & it was great doing real things & not stuck to your phone or some entertainment gadget you see all kids with today...I think i was from the last genereation of kids that actually got a real life in the real world coz after that it all changed

I came and went as I pleased. I paid for everything myself except room by age 14. I bought and cooked my own food. By 16 I was working about 50 hours a week. I partied hard and ignored school. I was kicked out of the house after I graduated at 17. I was used to doing everything my way when I wanted to do it. I went into the military because my roommates bailed on me and I needed a place to stay. I had no clue. My world COMPLETELY CHANGED!!!!!!!! I was terrorized by the difference. It was the best thing for me. In my opinion most young people should be required to serve in the military.

I was brought up in a conservative family. I was sent to a Catholic co-ed La Sallian school run by La Sallian Brothers. My father was a disciplinarian and he instilled in us the value of education, strict rule....no boyfriends until we finished college. But he allowed us to accept suitors to visit us at home and not see us outside That's why I had my first boyfriend after a year I graduated from college and I was already working. We were afraid of our father, I just usually stay in my room and read books. My parents know all our friends and when we go out we always ask permission and let them know our where abouts. When we come home late he would try to find us or go to our friend's house, he often do it with my elder sister who got so many friends My father is open minded when it comes to partying in our house, he said it is much better to drink at home and he would see our friends and what we are doing rather than we party or drink outside which is not safe for us. Though he allowed us to go out but we should bring our friends to ask permission from him and we shouldn't go beyond 12midnight, Cinderella

I believe having a disciplinarian/strict parents is really good for the children, it could give them guidance and keep them away from the bad influence of the society. But, it should not be over strict as it could also hinder the growth and development of the children. Giving leeway but with proper guidance would be helpful for the children to express themselves freely and have confidence in handling or dealing with their environments.

I was raised in a very strict old fashioned home that preached when a man was at home and around family you conducted yourself like a real man, doing chores, not swearing, helping neighbors, living up to your word. If you had vices you took them outside of the house and they where your cross to bear if things went wrong. I think it is why I have had such a great work ethic over the years if I got in trouble (which I did a few times) I had to deal with it or pay for it on my own.

I was brought up in a very strict family upbringing. Both parent were police officer. My mum was a detective in Criminal section. I practically grew up in the Police Academy.

At that time, I do not understand why my parent were strict about so many things. But as I grew up from child, teenager , young adult and now much much much older me,the importance of discipline , respect, responsibilty ..etc.. already drilled in me.

We did not not have much luxury... but my parent made sure we were rich in books. So in my childhood, I was more surrounded by books than so much toys.

As I grew up, my love for painting deepened. At that time, the society looked at all artists as Hippies .. no prospect of finding a job. Most parents( including my parent) wanted their kids to be doctor, teacher..etc
But I spent my school times in the art rooms ( even though I was not an art student) , spending most of my times with all the art students.
In a way, I was a little hippie at that time...

...REBEL!!!!!

I agree with you, Beach, seen the same phenomenon many times.

My upbringing was pretty cool. The contrast between parents quite peculiar. My mom tending to be worried too much (prolly cos I have a seriously ill epileptic sister, me being the only healthy child) and my dad gave a lot of freedom. But he did have boundaries and you didn't really like crossing them.

What restricted me the most in childhood, was being bullied at school for some 6 years on end. That made me confine myself in myself sort of.
Took me years and years to get that out of my system.

at the age of 22,I was somewhat disconnected and inexperienced in life's reality.

I both have authoritarian parents.
a solid rock conservative
upbringing is a dead serious business!..lol

being the youngest among the brood of seven.literally all eyes were on me.closely watched by everyone.

from grade school to secondary level.i was sent and educated in an exclusive all girls school run by the priests and nuns.

when I entered college,and required to stay in a dormitory.
I often have surprise visits from my family members.simply wanting to monitor my activities closely.

no partying .no friends allowed at home that's why mum and dad technically peppered me with pets as constant companion/s.
and yes,as expected no boyfriend until I earn by my own for a living.

not gratifying,but somehow this way of upbringing works to all of us(siblings).
none of us grew up delinquent.went into drugs etc.etc.etc.
each one graduated with degrees.
and most importantly,

we valued family and relationships more than anything else this world could ever offer.

let's see now

Daddy was a pacifist and a scholarly man

tended to stay in his den with his books


mama handled everything else

got divorced when I was 5


she took on two kids and a college degree

she was small, fierce and militant

and the world was a black and white place for her


I was raised with manners, rules, chores and the back of her hand
if I screwed up

Did you hear about the Catholic girl who failed her Driver's Ed Test?


The car stalled, and she jumped in the back seat by force of habit.

I grew up in a very strict ,religious and conservative home. I had my first date at 19 and my first drink in my mid-twenties.

But between church activities , family activities, warm interaction with neighbours and my parents love, I felt no compulsion to rebel .

I once heard someone say that rules minus a relationship equals rebellion. The rules dispensed in my household flowed out of a loving relationship with mutual understanding.

Ultimately I bought into what they were selling me, which was love with boundaries

All in all, I found that I, and most other people I know, went through the same basic stages. How we were brought up, and how the world behaved, in the end, really didn't determine as much as I expected.

There was the kid stage, where we thought the grownups knew what they were doing, so we had to grudgingly obey;

then the teen/rebellion stage, where we switched to questioning everything they said and did;

and then eventually, we became the grownups ourselves, and set our own standards.

I can trace what eventually became my own standards, not back to either what my parents taught, OR what schools and movies and religions taught...but rather I was who I was from the beginning, and my experiences eventually gave me a way to voice and control who I was.

Much of it is certainly in my family heritage, but I'm not sure how much of who I became is due to teaching, an how much of it is more or less biological. This is because my emotional and physical sensitivities, are what contributed the most to my eventual personal sense of what I wanted my life to be about.