There are as many different types of parents in this world as there are children. For the most part I'm a live and let live type of person, however you want to parent is fine with me! There are a few notable exceptions, and I'm willing to bet that if you've run into these types of parents they've rubbed on you like nails on a chalkboard as well.
I also like to think that our parenting style is as fluid as our children are, their stage changes and our parenting changes to meet it. So maybe these type of parents drive me (and you?) crazy today, but tomorrow there's a chance we might be one of them!
The Super Parent: The parent who posts on social media frequently about how amazing their kids are and how amazing they are. They nail the gifts for teachers, the birthday parties they throw look like they belong in a magazine, and their children are always clean, dressed, and out the door on time. These parents likely had their pre-baby body back within weeks of leaving the hospital, they probably don't even know what "fat pants" look like let alone own a pair in every color. These are the parents who make the job look easy, and frankly make the rest of us look bad even as we secretly wish we could be more like them.
The Aggressive Coach Parent: The parent who is running along the sidelines at peewee football games yelling at their child to "get the ball" and "make that tackle"! The parent who expects that their child will be the best at any sport they enroll them in, they never volunteer to be the team coach themselves that way they can focus on coaching only their child. Their child will score the most points, be the all-star, and stand out from the other players because they are better than their teammates at the game, but even with that their parent never lets up, never gives them praise, and always expects them to do better next time!
The Anything Goes Parent: The parent is so easy going, and so laid back it truly never bothers them that their child is making a mess, resembles Pig Pen, or obviously needs a haircut. They don't care if we're judging them, and they're absolutely never judging another parent. Parenting is not a competition, they're not here to win. Their kids are never cautioned to be careful, or share their toys, it's an anything goes household and growing up is all about testing limits and in this house there are no limits!
The I Could Do It Better Parent: Parenting is hard, I figure that if I'm lucky I get it right about 40 perccent of the time. The last thing I want is for someone to tell me how I could have done it better. Trust me, I know I could have done it better. I feel that way almost every single day, please don't feel compelled to point it out to me.
The Spotless House Parent: I don't know about you but my house looks like, well a lot like I have children. There are things everywhere. None of them are my things. Mostly because since I've had children I don't have very many things but that's another story entirely. There are discarded shoes, and cast off jackets, school backpacks and paper. Oh my gawd the amount of paper that merely having children enrolled in the public school system generates is mind boggling. I don't need most of it, but I have to find time to look at it before I can decide that and throw it away. Therefore it's usually found stacked on the kitchen counter. Or on the floor nearby if a breeze blows.
Add to my list what types of parents do you love to hate...sometimes?