No BARBIE?! So sad ;) But I think your point is a good one, we learn far more from our parents as role models than their interpretation of our toys. I remember Barbie going to work, dumping Ken to be free, hanging out with her friends, traveling all over the world when I played with her despite her debilitating measurements (but look at the size of Strawberry Shortcakes HEAD!)

Interestingly, my daughter has never owned a Barbie and never, ever wanted one. I would have loved her to! I could have dressed her up and styled her hair :)

Indeed - Barbies were allowed at our house, but they weren't my (or my sister's) favourite things to play with, so I don't think my mother took a lot of issue with them. And we cut all their hair off and "dyed" the mowhawks pink with chalk and stuff. We never had a Ken - we never wanted one.

But I wonder about them too... I bought a black one for Madame (stashed away for now, since she's only three) which I bought over a year ago... she saw it on the shelf, a tall black Barbie with a short afro... and she pointed and said, "Like mummy!" So I had to buy it.

There won't be any Bratz around here though. And I too wonder about Hanna Montana - but that's just because I don't really dig Miley Cyrus much.

i don't think little girls look at barbie as themselves since barbie is technically a grown woman. i'm okay with hannah montana, the show is hysterical and she's fully clothed all of the time....miley cyrus is another story.

i have a bad feeling i'm more strict than my parents! and they weren't slackers. oh well, i'll wait until they rebel when they're teenagers and write a book about it :-)

The only rule I remember is 'no guns/weapons'. We have the same rule (although Lightsabers are allowed). It's not a rule that gets challenged much by our son, but my brother had a bit of a hard time with it when he was little, as many of his friends had play pistols and rifles. My girls do have Barbies and Hannah Montana figures - I'm not bothered by either.

The one and only rule I have stuck with is that my kid is not allowed to say she doesn't like a particular food unless she tries it first. My parents went that one step further and refused to let us have anything else if we didn't eat what we were given but I am willing to relent on foods she truly does not like. We usually find that once the first bite happens, the food magically gets eaten anyways!

I remember always remember my parents being quite strict about the going to bed on time rule. I used to hate it, but I have learned that keeping kids on a routine is good for them. So I have kept this rule.

I remember being forced to eat food I hated, like porridge, and ended up hating those foods even today. I've relaxed this rule to allow the kids some leeway in not having to eat food they have tried and dislike, as long as they are getting a balanced diet.

I think everyone eating at the dinner table is one rule I kept. This allows family conversation and gives everyone a chance to talk about their day and issues.

I basically didn't have rules growing up, particularly as a teenager. I always felt my mother didn't care enough. So when my girls were that age, I did have rules. They had to be in at a certain time, and if they couldn't get home for some reason at that time, they would have to call me to see if they could stay out longer. And we had a "no boyfriends before 16" rule. I not only didn't have that rule, but went "clubbing" at 13 (when the legal age was 21)...........absolutely ridiculous, looking back!

Isn't it funny -I wasn't allowed them either. It was actually my mom's best friend who gave me my first Barbie.

Come home when the streetlight come on? Didn't we all have that one in much different times?

the rule was to make the bed everyday - i still dont follow it.

My parents were pretty laid back and we didn't have many rules. I am the same way with my kids. We just have the regular rules like keep your room clean and pick up after yourself - nothing out of the ordinary.

Although I have a structured bedtime for my children, there is some leniency. Growing up our bedtime was ironclad, no exceptions. Special circumstances can effect their bedtime and I dont believe in putting them to bed when they arent tired. I can remember lying in bed for hours as a child unable to sleep - I have learned to gage what time is bed for my little ones to lie their precious heads down.

We had a no singing at the table rule, and I don't really know to this day why?? One night our boys started singing at the table, and my hubby said No singing at the table, and I said a little to emphatically "WHY NOT???" We are usually pretty in sync, or don't show it in front of the boys if we aren't, but I couldn't figure out why. So we came to the understanding that it's ok to sing at the table sometimes, just not when Daddy and Mommy are trying to talk to each other, or to someone else.

I don't remember having a long of set rules. But here are a couple of things I remember. There were 3 girls in the family and 2 boys. My mom just didn't have time to look after "girl" hair, so until we were able to look after it properly ourselves, we weren't allowed to have long hair. Also we weren't allowed to get pierced ears until we were able to look after earrings and any infections. Mom wanted us to be responsible for ourselves and our actions. I hope I have passed these things on to my 2 boys. And a side note. We had barbies and after my sister passed away at age 46 I took her barbies and some of the clothes (some handmade by our mother) and made a beautiful shadow box of it all to remember my sister. Barbie is iconic and this was a cool reminder of the times we "played Barbies."

One rule was that we ate dinner all together at the table as a family every night. There was no eating in front of the TV.

WE always had to keep our rooms tidy growing up and had chores that needed to be done weekly. Have tried with my two sons to try and keep rooms tidy and help out with small chores but I feel it is just not going well, although as they get older seems to be getting better

We were never allowed to ridicule anyone, for any reason under threat of dire consequences! While I am not nearly as strict as my mother was, I do keep the rule about ridiculing people. All kids get in scuffles and say mean things... but we don't accept anything personal that degrades or points out disabilities.

I had Barbies growing up but I have a friend whose Mother thought much the same as your parents and bought her a lot of generic, more realistically sized clone type dolls. She also seems to have had issues with that decision and now owns tons of Barbies....even though she only had a son:) The only rule I remember my parents being super strict on was no pierced ears until I was 13 and able to capably do the care on them myself.

no major rule changes - but i'm a little stricter about limiting tv time and i certainly limit junk food/soda/sugar much more. great giveaway - thank you!

We didn't have video games growing up but I allow my family to have them (with time constraints so they don't play all day!)

Curfew rules have changed to rules regarding limiting computer time

I don't force the kids to eat certain foods like my parents did with me but i do try to introduce them more to nutrition

My parents had a rule of eating at the table together and not in front of the TV.

My parents always made us eat at the table, never infront of a t.v. It was our time to talk to as a family. My girls are both under 3 years old, but every meal we have is shared together at the table. I think it's important to have the unimterupted time with them, where they're not half paying attention to me, and half paying attention to Barney!

I didn't understand the rule as a kid, but I understand now...our family rule was no toys in the kitchen. Now having 3 under 7 in my house we have the same rule. Mostly for safety, but the kitchen is one room in my home that has no toys in it! :)

when i was a kid i didnt have very many rules at all my guess is because i was a only child ..... but now that i am a mother of 3 i find there are no other options then to have some rules just the basics like cleaning up your toys and washing ur hand before meals and stuff like that but mind you there isnt too many rules u can make for 3 kids under the age of 3

a lot of the rules are the same in my house now as they were when I was a kid. I think now some of them are tougher just because I don't think the world is as safe as it was when I was a kid

A lot of the rules that we had growing up, I've kept with my own children. I did change an eating rule though. We used to have to eat everything on our plate that was served to us before we could leave the table. I don't make my children eat everything, but if they don't, they can't eat something else later on when they're hungry.... especially not dessert. They have to eat the rest of what was on their plate (which was put away just in case).

My daughter is 3 1/2, we love playing Barbies together. We even have some new Barbie books that we read at night. I used to have to be in bed by 8 PM, my kids are up much later then that every night.

One rule that I changed in my house was the "clean up everything on your plate" rule. We always made their servings small. They had to take at least 3 bites and, at times, they even asked for seconds!

They must eat everything on their plate before they get dessert, or something else after dinner!

We had the rule growing up that if you were too sick to go to school then you were too sick to go out that evening. I used that rule with my own son.

Not many rules growing up, but there are rules for my 2 young children.

My parents never swore and never allowed foul language at home.To this day our children never swear at home.

We had to go to bed at a decent hour. I kept that rule for my children too. Now I know it not only helps the children....but it helps the parents keep their sanity.

Back when I was the child we all got chores to do with no allowance, it was a family helping family rule. I carry that with me now and understand it way better!

When I was growing up we always ate dinner together. I try to keep to have my own family eat together every night when possible. It's a great time to catch up on everyone's day. I did have barbies when growing, if I had girls I would buy them barbies too.

We're trying to sort this out. Our little guy is only 10 weeks old so the only rule right now is there are no rules!

The one rule my parents had, was that no matter what the subject- any book I wanted to read was allowed. It really instilled a love of reading & of trying to shock my parents on occassion,lol. I took that rule for my own kids but on occassion if there was a book that they might not have read , I left it laying around, but told them that they might be a bit young for it yet. Needless to say they read it right quick & came to tell me all about it , trying to prove how grown up they actually were. They are both varacious readers now -on any subject.

eating at the table, and asking permission to leave the table, and not interupting when others are speaking

I was never allowed a Barbie so I have bought lots of them for my daughters & grandaughters !

I have a lot of rules that I kept from growing up including using your manners, being respectful and not lying. THere are many more but these were the deal breakers in my parents house and now enforced in my house. THe difference is in the enforcement!

I have pretty much the same rules for my kids but I am not as strict as my mom was with my siblings and I.

I never had a Barbie doll growing up but it was not because I wasn't allowed .. I just did not know about it.. I had a beautiful doll with shiny dark brown hair and she was gorgeous.
I have a little boy and we do follow the usual rules we - as parents has growing up.. among them regular bed times and being polite to all.

One rule I had and kept was "No wandering around the house with food." All food must remain in the kitchen! Saves a lot of extra potential mess making!

I have had some rules growing up but I think that I have made and enforced some new ones for my own family that have been effective

After reading some of these comments, I have to say..I don't remember any of these rules growing up! My parents were pretty laid back, and we usually ended up eating dinner in the living room. That has changed now that I'm grown...my kids always have to eat at the table, and we eat as a family whenever possible.
I do know that my mom hated whining, and we weren't whiny kids because of it. I'm trying to KEEP that rule because I hate whining too! LOL

no wandering with food inside the house..no eating in bedrooms..

I had many rules I had to follow, my parents where very strict "Italians" but as soon as my older sister was able to do something, I just took advantage and just did it without asking... I truned out rebellious. then my 7 year old younger sister came along... wow where they strict with her...

right now I'm a little strict with my girl, but never so much as my parents where.

I'm overprotective of her, she is a great kid, but I just can't let go.. always afraid something happens :(

The rules I had as a child and the one's my kids have are to always take your shoes off at the door, and to say please and thank you.

We had to sit at the table until our dinner was finished. Did not matter how long it took. I do not have that rule for my kids now but if they do not eat dinner, there are no treats or snacks until the next day.

The one rule i kept from my childhood was respect your elders and treat everyone the way you would like to be treated. No fighting or no bullying.

I don`t remember a lot of rules growing up. But I do remember that we were sometimes allowed to eat while watching tv. This is something we have not allowed our kids to do. We have always dinner at the table as a family.

Growing up we always had to eat at the table together, and you could not get up until everyone was finished and you were "excused". We have the same rules now with our kids. I really believe it is important to eat together and talk as a family. Thanks

When I was growing up I was never allowed to say "Shut up!" and now I don't let my kids say it. I find it offensive. I was also never allowed to say "stupid", in my household I do not let my kids refer to a person as stupid, but they can say "that was a stupid thing to do" or something like that.

Our house we had to sit and sit at the table until our dinner was done with threats of getting it for breakfast in the morning....I remember hours sitting staring at a hated dinner, the tears rolling etc. With my own daughter we encourage her to try things even if she may not think she likes them...and have found that if mommy and daddy really show they like them she does too. My husband still teases me when I let my daughter know brussel sprouts are super yummy and all the growing power they have in them when I despise brussel sprouts.lol....but I get through it as I watch her eat them all up. When she is full by her standards, we try and get a couple more bites if she has not eaten much but let her go after. At 6 she is a healthy weight and has a good healthy respect for food knowing when she is full.

I had Barbies growing up and my daughter has them now too. I am still unsure about that but she loves them! Although, she has given some interesting hair cuts and her own style of "make up".
Growing up I always felt that I had far too many rules. I did not understand why at 12 years old I was not allowed to wear make up and go out dancing (not sure where I would have gone) and come home whenever I wanted. IAs funny as that sounds now, I will make the same choice for my own daughter (she is 7). I do insist she keep her room clean.

My parents was very strict on everything, very particular in a chinese family, which I could not have my own choice/idea on many things. I have rules on the children, which can guide them to the right path while they can have their own choices.

I read somewhere that if Barbie were actually alive she would not be able to walk upright but only on all fours based on her measurements! I got quite a laugh out of that! I loved Barbies when I was young and both my girls have barbies and do not play with them near as much as I did. I don't think I was harmed and I have a good body image and hope that both my girls will too based on what we have taught them. As for other rules, I feel my parents were a little too relaxed with me so I find I basically use the same rules I had growing up but I make sure to enforce them more so.

As a child I had a very different set of rules being the only girl with three brothers. For my girls, I try to moderate their exposure, understanding that by banning something, they will become obsessed with it and will begin to hide things from me as well as will experience them through their friends. I try to take part in their activities so I can guide their experiences and help interpret what they watch and play with, and so I can deal with the bad dreams and stories that we get days and weeks later.

Yes, there are rules. It's a form of discipline. But ofcourse, my parents wanted me to enjoy my childhood as well. As a Mom, I always remind them to study hard, do chores (shared responsibilities), save money, be a good boy/ girl, and enjoy life :)

I have alot of the same rules that my parents did, I think they did a pretty good job of it :) I don't spank though I think that is the biggest diffrence. I do expect a huge amount of respect, much more than alot of my friends do of their kids. I expect my kids to help out around the house and with the animals. My parents we very strict with the TV and we have a no TV unless you are very sick, or it is a very special family treat rule. And we have very strict computer time for the kids to. I like to think I will do as good a job as my Mom and Dad LOL. Hope so :)

I do impose rules because with kids it would be mayem,i do thank my mom for all the stucture when i was growing up now my kids get it.Moderation is the key,like in everything else.My dauther loves barbi and my son is a hardcore sports fan.I like that about them its what makes them unique.I might add that being a single mom is not easy.

I WANT TO WIN

A strict bedtime...I had one and made sure my girls had one...it's a good one! Healthy and provides stability...:D

I kept a lot of the same rules as my parents had but one thing I didn't keep was how strict they were for us to eat exactly what vegetables they gave us and if you complained you got more. One of Dad's favorites was my Mom's homemade stew.... with TURNIPS, yuck for me but it I said anything negative I got more turnips. Yes I ensure my kids eat vegetables but if there is one or two that they just can't stand I don't force them to eat it but give them other healthy vegetable alternatives.

I don't remember any rules growing up. But they did teach us manners and to respect someones property. That is how I am raising my daughter. manners and respect to me is number one in my home.

I never had a Barbie or any other toys because my parents could not afford it. But I did spoil my daughter with Barbies. She is a very good girl and I am very proud of her.

My sister and I had to take piano, and practicing was something we couldn't get away from. My kids are taking music lessons (piano and voice), and luckily they are *still* enjoying it. Music is so important, so it's one of those things my kids just have to do too.

The rules at our household growing up was to treat everyone the way you would like them to treat you. This is something that I have passed on to the children in my home today.

The biggest rule is not to say you don't like a certain type of food, unless you've tried it before. My son especially is really picky, and getting him to try certain things is always a challenge, so we've implemented this rule, and if he truly doesn't like something we deal with it, otherwise, he's been pleasantly surprised on a few occasions!

I did not have any rules regarding what toys were appropriate when I was a kid. Really I had very few toys as things were tight, so what little I had I was grateful for. For my daughter- I don't like Bratz dolls. But Barbie has always been welcome. I do remember my Barbie being a computer whiz (I made one our of an old jewelery box) and driving a Tonka truck! My daughter constantly has Barbie doing adventures (hand gliding and saving animals) so one more rescue girl would be great!

I had many rules growing up and my children now do too but I have adapted them to today' s standards was a different time when I was growing up no computers in the household and video games were an atari system back than so parenting and limitations are quite different now.

Growing up I remember that one rule we had was that the TV did not go on during the day, and I have maintained that with my own family. The TV only went on after supper.

I had only 2 Barbies as a child and my mom made lots of clothes and accessories and my dad made lots of doll furniture, he was good with woodworking! I loved playing with them! with my own daughter..wow, she has so many and a huge Barbie house and all the acessories Barbie and friends could ever want! lol she is getting a bit older and has said she will pass them all on to a little girl once she outgrows them so they can enjoy it as much as she has! Growing up I had lots of rules to follow , I am a bit more lax with my children..but one rule I adhere to is I have to know where they are or are going , they have to tell us and the older one has to carry his cell.!

Not so sure that I wasn't allowed to have a Barbie doll as it was more that my parents weren't willing to buy any (probably because they couldn't afford it).

I remember going to Woodward's Toy Land one year and they had a fishing pond that you could buy a ticket for and go fishing for a prize. Well wouldn't you know it, I got a Barbie Doll! Sadly she was a very cold Barbie as she was only wearing a bathing suit and I didn't have any other clothes for her. HA HA! It was the best prize ever!!!

As for rules - there were no birthdays at friends houses - how cruel I know.....we've changed that and try to go whenever we are invited.

I too was allowed barbies but was never a barbie fan. I think I may of had two dolls.
Rules I remember well and keep now is homework started before supper. I use to slack off but noticed kids would "remember" homework close to bedtime.(my teen daughter).
and set bedtimes ,lights out both girls ,gladly are book worms and my 16 yr old will read til sun comes up if i let her

I never had birthday parties and I think children should so I made sure my 3 kids had them; I would hire a young magician with doves and that one was the best.

I cam from a family of eight childen and being the oldest, I was lucky to get a few barbies which, I, in turn passed down to my three younger sisters. I and my sisters have each kept the barbies we had as children and passed them down to our daughters to enjoy and play with.

I have tried to be totally different from how I was raised. I was more of a tomboy though so I was always playing with wrestlers or actionfigures and not Barbies, but my 10 yr old daughter loves Barbie.

I remember having a lot of rules growing up - and we are way more lenient with our child!

we had a strict bedtime hour on school nights, and i can remember laying in bed at 8 o'clock at night in the spring after the time had changed, and i could hear the neighbor kids still playing tag and hide and go seek outside!! as i parent, i can now see where my parents were coming from... and although i tried to be consistent with the bedtime thing, that was one rule that we could bend once in awhile!!

No Barbies? That is sad, as for rules on dolls, why would we have rules for those in this day and age when we have more to worry about like the violent video games like grand theft auto and hollywood images and models that our children see on a daily basis do we really think dolls are the big enemy? I think the morals and values we instill in our children are more important and will be the thing that shapes them into adults and not any doll will do that, just my opinon.

Sure did, and my Dad was a single parent, so we had chores if we wanted our weekly allowance and curfews

this was carried over when I was bringing up my son, and he grew into a fine young man

No real rules..and I am the same...But I did have Barbies..and I had the Sunshine family too..and a bunch of Dawn dolls !!!

My mom was pretty easygoing, and I like to think I am too. One rule she had was no gum in the house, and I do understand why because when my son has gum I OFTEN find it in places it shouldn't be (like stuck to the floor), but I just can't justify cutting it off completely. He can have his gum, but I'll be watching him to make sure it goes in the garbage!

The rule I kept for my two daughters that my parents had was they had to always say grace and something they are thankful for before we eat.

Overall, despite a few differences, I am raising my children fairly similar to how I was raised.

I had rules growing up that were extremely strict. I try to be consistent with my discipline while letting her be a kid and showing her rather then the harsh punishments.

Lots of the same rules, clear the table after eating, respect your elders, and don't let anyone play with the hand made Barbie clothes your grandma sewed for years. :)

I definitely am more lenient about a lot of things compared to my parents when it comes to my daughter's upbringing. I tend to be less structured when it comes to meal times. We eat when we are hungry.

My husband and I have banded together to create the rules that best apply to our family. Some come from his up bringing; some from mine and a few we've changed that we found didn't work for us growing up. We love our children and only want the best for them.

My parents were very laid back when i was a kid, so I try to be the same way about everything. It's easier that way for the kids, as they see you as a friend and a parent in one. It promotes trust in the family.

I had a very strict upbringing, especially in my teen years, as I was once grounded for two years. So I know that I can be stricter than most as thats what I grew up with, however I have certainly tempered that, and I make sure to really listen now, and admit when I make mistakes too.