We have some good news for all you wonderful mothers out there who are proud parents of daughters. Your worry about whether or not your daughters have understood the information over the past few days is starting to pay off.
According to the results of a study done by the University of Essex, teenage daughters whose mothers constantly nag them, have a better chance of being successful in life. This was compared to daughters whose moms were very easygoing.
Oh yes. You have been forced to give her motherly looks from across the room. You’ve been giving them constant reminders, arguments, and conversations, not to mention what some think is harassment. The fact that people whisper and say mean things about you. Oh, each one was without a doubt well worth the work.
During the six-year study, researchers looked at the lives of more than 15,000 13 and 14-year-old girls. Researchers came to the conclusion that young women with a primary parent (usually the mother) who kept a close eye on their duties, academic performance, and responsibilities were more likely to finish college and get well-paying jobs.
Also, they were much less likely to get pregnant when they were still teenagers. The “nagging” might not come in the way you think it will. Instead, it has more to do with the fact that parents have to set clear, consistent rules for their kids. During the research, one thing that may surprise you is that your kids are listening even when you don’t think they are.
Ericka G. Rascon-Ramirez, who was in charge of the study, says that parents have an effect on their children’s decisions no matter what:
In many cases we succeeded in doing what we believed was more convenient for us, even when this was against our parents’ will. But no matter how hard we tried to avoid our parents’ recommendations, it is likely that they ended up influencing, in a more subtle manner, choices that we had considered extremely personal.
It seems that the values that parents teach their children, whether they are aware of them or not, stick with them for a long time. Teens’ pushback and other normal reactions are, in a way, a cover for what’s going on behind the scenes. They don’t always like it when you remind them of this, but it works!
The researchers also found that many of the improvements were seen in girls who weren’t the best students but whose mothers were bossy or “pushy.” Teen pregnancy is a problem in both the UK and the US, but it is getting better. If parents choose to raise their kids in this way, it can cut the rate of teen pregnancy by 4%.
You can have an effect on their choices when they are young and help them be better prepared to take advantage of long-term success opportunities by telling them how dangerous it is to have babies when they are young, not work hard, and get bad grades. There are some benefits to always giving advice to people who don’t ask for it.
Moms: even if we feel like we’re being ignored, disrespected, or seen as too bossy, we should remember that our actions can have positive effects. If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear your own mother’s (or father’s) voice telling you what to do or what not to do. It never ends, does it?
Just try not to say things like “I told you so” and don’t laugh when your child makes a mistake. Your girls are more likely to reach their goals if you encourage and “nag” them in the right way.
Do you agree with the results of this study based on what you’ve seen in your own life? Did your mom always bug you about things when you were a kid? Are you a parent who tends to make too many decisions for your daughter?
