Blog Post #6

I learned a lot from my interview. I interviewed my neighbor who is 81 years old. I never asked him what his childhood was like before, but after talking to him about it I'm glad that it is not like it was back then. I wasn't very surprised to hear that he had to work when he was younger, because I've heard that before, but I was surprised at how much he actually worked. He worked 6 days a week and anywhere from 8-12 hours a day plus 3 more hours of barn chores. Most adults don't even work that much and he started at the age of 17. He had some pretty funny stories to tell too. One was about how him and his brothers were at a bar in Marshfield, across from the police station. His brothers got into a fight so they told him to hold their coats. When the cops came to break it up they not only arrested his brothers, but him too and he didn't even do anything. The judge even told him that he shouldn't have been arrested but they still made him pay $18 to get out of jail.

I didn't think the video was too bad. I liked their idea that during adolescents parents should let their kids experiment and experience things. They should only step in when it becomes an issue or their child possibly being injured or harmed. I don't exactly know how to describe my time as an adolescent. I mean I remember arguing with my mom at times but I don't really think it was ever a really bad argument. I guess ya it wasn't a horrible time for me because my parents were good about it and I have always been laid back. I don't really know how my time as an adolescent will affect me as I become an adult. I don't think it will really affect me very much.

The thing I learned the most in chapter 4 was I guess just more on the nature v. nurture issue. The chapter just talked about how both our genetics and environment affect who we are. Our culture and friends affect us greatly. You can see a difference in attitudes and norms from culture to culture. In China it isn't uncommon for many kids to share one room where in the United States most kids have their own room or possibly share with a sibling. Also there are different accepted customs in each country. For example if we saw two guys kissing in public most of us would think they are homosexual, while in some countries that is the normal greeting between two guy friends.

One thing I learned in chapter 5 was about the three main parenting styles. There are three main styles used by parents and they reflect how, and to what extent, parents seek to control their children. The first is authoritarian and they are the very strict parents that make rules and expect obedience. The second style is permissive and these are the parents that pretty much let their kids do whatever they want with no control. The third style is authoritative who are both demanding and responsive. I would say my parents are authoritative because I do get a lot of freedoms but yet if my parents told me to do something I would do it. Often times I just tell them when I am going to be home and if its alright they say ok or they say be home earlier than that.