EXCLUSIVE: Mum faces backlash after sharing her ‘unconventional’ parenting style
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A mum's parenting style has raised eyebrows among TikTok users after she went viral on the social media platform.

TikTok user @treeeflower posted a video titled "Unconventional (and controversial) ways I’m raising my 10 year old”, explaining how she raises her daughter authentically.

Credit: TikTok/@treeeflower​

She said in her video: “No bedtimes, or wake up times, (sometimes that means going to sleep at 5 am and waking up at 4 pm).”

“Has never been to school. Chooses what she wants to learn and when she wants to learn it.”

"No limits on screen time."

However, she said that she does not allow her daughter to sleep over even with family members, noting that her daughter still sleeps in the same bedroom as her.

Finally, the mum said that she encourages her daughter to "speak her own mind" and "to be opinionated".

The mum said she allows her daughter to stay awake as much as she wants and does not impose any bedtime or wake up time. Credit: TikTok/@treeeflower.​

Kidspot said that the mum is a "crunchy mum", meaning she would prefer to use natural options as much as she can to raise her child.

The group said: “Crunchy mums usually choose the natural option instead of the mass-produced or medicated one."

“So that’s a natural (drug-free) home birth, placenta encapsulation, breastfeeding (not just for the six-month recommended WHO minimum, but until the child weans themselves), anti-vaccination, anti-circumcision, baby-wearing, co-sleeping, bed-sharing, cloth nappies or elimination communication, attachment parenting, natural medicine, organic eating, and (sometimes) homeschooling or unschooling.”

Kidspot dubbed this style of parenting as “crunchy parenting”. Credit: TikTok/@treeeflower.​

The video, which amassed 700,000 views, was met with backlash with many saying that she's making her daughter dependent on her.

One TikTok user wrote: “You’re basically creating a child who will be dependent on you for life because she lacks a basic education.”

“How can she be opinionated when she’s exposed to nothing?” another added.

However, one person defied others and has shown support to the mum.

“Raising a child authentically away from society’s standard is nothing to be ashamed of," wrote one user.

What are your thoughts on this parenting style?

 

[Lynette Finnigan]

Part of being a parent (you're not your child's friend or playmate, etc)....is setting them rules, boundaries and guidelines.... they are children and need this guidance to help them develop the correct structures of their life. Time to sleep, eat, learn, have fun, etc, etc....that's some of the tuff stuff of parenting. No one seems to want to be responsible for anything these days, not even raising their own kids!

 

[rehandra]

Part of being a parent (you're not your child's friend or playmate, etc)....is setting them rules, boundaries and guidelines.... they are children and need this guidance to help them develop the correct structures of their life. Time to sleep, eat, learn, have fun, etc, etc....that's some of the tuff stuff of parenting. No one seems to want to be responsible for anything these days, not even raising their own kids!

This girl is going to be in for a hell of a shock when she gets out into the real world and comes up against the word NO!