Many of us grow up thinking we have strict parents. But as time goes by and we hear about other households, we often realize that our definition of the word needs to be revisited.

For Reddit user Hour-Sort8656, however, it was the other way around. In a post on the subreddit ‘Am I the [Jerk]?’, the woman explained that she recently realized her mom was acting “strange” and “obsessive” whenever it came to food.

So now, for her upcoming visit, Hour-Sort8656 plans to give her a taste of her own medicine.

As much as this woman appreciates everything her mom has done for her, she believes that their food rules were way too strict

Image credits: Danik Prihodko (not the actual photo)

So she plans to give her mom a taste of her own medicine

Image credits: PNW Production (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Liza Summer (not the actual photo)

Image credits:  Liza Summer (not the actual photo)

As the story went viral, the woman updated her post to provide additional context

Image credits: Hour-Sort8656

Image credits: Monstera Production (not the actual photo)

Strict parents usually mean well but their way of raising kids can come at a cost

While authoritarian parents sound harsh, most of them mean well. Usually, these folks believe their approach will produce children who are capable, well-rounded, and high-achieving members of society.

However, as we can see from the post, this can come at a cost. Jeff Nalin, Psy.D., an award-winning licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Paradigm Treatment Centers, told Parents that, “Children whose behavior is largely dependent on a strict regimen of do’s and don’ts will base their own self-worth on whether or not they have obeyed the rules put into place by their parents.”

This emphasis on cause and consequence can hinder a child’s natural ability to make choices, which may directly impact their self-esteem.

Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

Poor eating habits in childhood can follow kids well into their adulthood

Food serves a lot of purposes: it can be tasty, fun, and culturally important, but parents have to be aware of the fact that poor eating habits in childhood can follow kids well into their adulthood, causing all sorts of problems.

“Food is the first type of medicine,” pediatric cardiologist Christina Fink, MD, said. “Kids need good nutrition to live, grow, and be healthy. But inadequate or improper types of nutrition can lead to childhood obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, and further issues once in adulthood.”

Whether you have a toddler or a teen,  experts suggest following these five strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:

• Have regular family meals;
• Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks;
• Be a role model by eating healthy yourself;
• Avoid battles over food;
• Involve kids in the process.

Of course, eating well can be hard — family schedules are chaotic, and grab-and-go convenience store foods are readily available. But locks and video cameras are hardly the answers, too.

Most people believe the author of the post should continue with her plan

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