Marie Bentley reflects on the stark contrast between raising her eldest child 26 years ago and her youngest today, revealing how technology and personal growth have reshaped her parenting style.
Marie Bentley’s story is a fascinating look at how parenting evolves over time. With her eldest now 26 and her youngest just 13, she finds herself navigating a world that has transformed in the blink of an eye. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when her first three children were growing up, the internet was a different beast. Back then, Marie only needed to caution them about sharing personal information online, because that was all she really knew about it. Fast forward to 2011, when her youngest was born, and everything had changed. Technology’s rapid progression pushed her to rethink her methods.
Marie is now more vigilant about her youngest child’s online activities. Working remotely, she’s become keenly aware of internet dangers, a shift that has drastically changed her approach to parenting this fourth time around. Unlike her older children, her youngest has strict internet access rules. Marie’s commitment to this is evident in the use of monitoring apps, detecting suspicious activities with keywords related to self-harm or bullying. She has also limited phone use to just family and a few friends, keeping the device under her possession to ensure safety.
Yet, Marie’s adaptation goes beyond mere technology controls. She looks back and acknowledges the wisdom that age and experience have granted her. She regrets not allowing her older kids the same freedoms that her youngest enjoys today. Forest school, nature walks, and the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities like archery and knife carving were privileges her youngest had that his siblings didn’t. These activities have helped him grow independently and confidently, something she wishes her older children had experienced.
Marie reflects on how her parenting style, early on, might have stifled her older children’s willingness to try new things. Her method was more structured, adult-led, and constrained, which left little room for creativity and independence. Although her adult children are all successful today, she can’t help but feel that their hesitance to explore new avenues could be a side effect of her past parenting approach.
In her journey, Marie has learned the importance of allowing her children to explore their interests freely—a lesson she is determined to implement with her youngest. Now, as he steps into his teen years, she encourages him to engage with nature and explore his creative side with minimal guidance. She hopes that this freedom will foster a sense of confidence and self-trust in him that will accompany him into adulthood.
Parenting, as Marie has discovered, is a never-ending journey of learning and adaptation. Her story illustrates the importance of evolving alongside her children to maintain a nurturing relationship.
Marie Bentley’s experience underscores the dynamic nature of parenting and how time and technology necessitate evolving methods. Her journey from a parent of three in the early 2000s to raising a teen in today’s digital era sheds light on the significance of adaptability, freedom, and learning alongside our children.
Source: Yahoo
