Zodiac Signs Who Are Overbearing Parents Vs. Those Who Are The "Cool Parent"
What kind of parent are you?
Unsplash What makes someone a "cool" parent? Is it having less rules and more leniency? Maybe it's someone who lets their children speak honestly with them and respects their privacy.
The "cool parent" vibes come easily to some zodiac signs.
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There are certain preconceived notions that all parents should adhere to – and letting their children do whatever they want and letting them have everything they ask for isn't part of that.
Now, I think if you ask a lot of different parents from different backgrounds and family types, the general consensus is probably that there should be a certain level of authority.
While it's totally fine to have a close, friendship-like relationship with your children, you're still the adult and should be able to make the rules and garner respect from your children.
If a parent is too lenient, there's a chance there won't be that respect – why should they respect you if you let them do whatever they want, right?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, being too controlling or overbearing doesn't make you a great parent, either.
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Being overbearing and controlling can come out in many different ways, sometimes through putting too much pressure on your kids to succeed and sometimes making them feel like they're just an extension of you, not their own people.
There are so many things you should and shouldn't do when raising kids that I think we can all agree that parenting is just really, really hard.
I think that, as society and families have changed, what people consider the "cool" parent to be like is also changing.
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It's not so much driving your children and their friends to the mall and letting them stay up late and eat junk food any more.
It might be closer to not enforcing gender stereotypes, being a good listener, and being more open about conversations surrounding mental health and individuality now.
Of course, you can do all of this and still focus too much on your children, which can make you the overbearing parent.
Or, you can do all of this and be too lenient, and be known as the cool parent who just doesn't care. I think you want to care about your kids, right? Of course!
Each zodiac sign has the capacity to care about their children and be good parents, just like every zodiac sign has their own quirks that make them a little overbearing and a little cool – all at the same time.
It's not easy to pin down exactly what can make you the controlling or cool parent because each zodiac sign has their own way of parenting.
That said, putting the horoscope signs in one of the two categories can be easy, but maybe only because of how we see their basic personalities.
When it comes down to it, you're really the only one who can decide to be the best parent you can be. Here are the zodiac signs who are the most overbearing/controlling parents vs. the signs who are the "cool parent," according to astrology.
1. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
While you're definitely one of the most protective parents – and always make sure you're there for your kids – you often cross the line into "overprotective" territory, Scorpio. You should want your children to grow up with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world, not teach them to grow up being afraid of their own shadow.
You can also be the kind of parent who "forgets" to knock when you come into your kid's room. I know, I know – there are NO secrets in the house, but everyone deserves some privacy, don't you think?
Scorpio parents are very passionate and proud of their children, but they can easily turn into someone overbearing and controlling if they start thinking of their kids as mere extensions of themselves (instead of their own people).
2. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Your children should be proud to have a parent like you, Virgo. You might embarrass them at times with your "that's my kid!" attitude at sporting events and science fairs, but you can't help it! You're the kind of parent who always helps your kids with homework, and you place a lot of importance on education and extracurricular activities.
What makes you so controlling and overbearing, however, is the fact that you can be so critical of your children. You have the mentality that success is equal to perfection.
You want your children to be the best they can possibly be, which usually results in lots of tutoring and chastising when they get anything below an "A" on a test. Maybe you forgot how it was when you were their age? Too many expectations are bound to backfire.
3. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
You only want the best for your children, Capricorn. That's why you push them so hard, after all. Maybe you're trying to make up for mistakes you've made in your past by making sure your children always make the right choices, but making mistakes is just part of growing up.
While you're certainly a loyal, loving parent who would take a bullet for your kid, you don't always need to be so intense, either. Family is VERY important to you. What makes you a good parent is your insistence that you have family dinners every week and spend quality time together.
But you can also be a little controlling of your children, especially during their down time. There's nothing wrong with wanting to veg out in front of the TV, right? Learn how to indulge them every so often so that they appreciate you more when you push for their success.
4. ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
Aries, you're a super fun parent. You have a lot of energy, and you like to use that energy to cheer your children on at sporting events and treat them to ice cream afterwards.
Some of the best memories you've made with your children are ones where you spend time laughing and having fun. You also have a very caring and encouraging nature, which is important in a parent.
That said, your bossiness is what can make you controlling at times. You have an ability to flip the switch on your kids without them realizing it. One minute, you're all friends, and the next minute, you're pulling the "I'm the parent" card.
When you want something done, it's either your way or the highway, and your stubbornness and unwillingness to compromise make for a lot of rough days in your house.
5. LEO (July 23 - August 22)
The amount of love and pride you have for your cubs is unmatched, Leo. Every day, you feel like your children do something new to amaze you.
You're definitely the kind of parent who displays as many projects and tests with gold stars as your fridge will allow, and you love bragging about how amazing your kid is to all of the other parents, too.
All of that said, you often try to live vicariously through your children. When they succeed, you always like to give yourself a little pat on the back to congratulate yourself for being the parent of such amazing children instead of giving them all the credit.
It's easy for you to lose sight of what's best for them when you're only thinking about yourself, and when they ultimately try to pull away, you feel offended and betrayed. You don't always do it on purpose, but this makes you a little overbearing.
6. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
Cancer, you have the caregiving spirit in your bones – you were born to be a parent. Your nurturing, compassionate nature makes you the parent that everyone wishes they had.
Sure, your kids might roll their eyes when you try to rub some dirt off their face or make a comment about their latest fashion sense, but they appreciate the homemade cookies and homework help, too.
You're another zodiac sign that greatly values family time, and you don't allow any excuses from your kids when you have the table set for dinner or have scheduled family time for the weekend.
While you do try your best to let your kids do their own thing, it's easy for you to suffocate them with attention and affection. The trick is to not take it personally when they choose their friends over spending time with you – it comes with growing up, after all.
7. PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
What makes you such a good parent, Pisces, is how creative you can be. You're the kind of parent that believes that education isn't just something you can learn in a classroom. You always try your hardest to teach your kids to look at the world differently, and you try to be the role model that they can look up to.
One of your best qualities is your comforting and wise nature – whenever your children need help, you know what to do. Rather than trying to be the cool parent, you should spend more time continuing to be a good parent.
When you try to let your guard down, you end up trying too hard to be the cool parent, which only backfires.
Soon, you'll have children who know exactly how to take advantage of your leniency. And who will you blame for that? Yourself. It's better to be the kind parent who cares rather than the cool, lazy one who doesn't.
8. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
Taurus, you make a good parent because you have an insane amount of patience. You know that children are a lot of work (and that they aren't always going to want to listen to you), but instead of being controlling and constantly telling them what to do, you let your kids be kids.
How refreshing. You can be stubborn at times, but you're also very supportive and will encourage your kid in anything and everything they do in life. What makes you a cool parent, though, is not necessarily a good thing.
You can be overindulgent and lazy; two qualities that can make for a LOT of chaos at home. You have a tendency to give your kids whatever they want and are sometimes too lazy to discipline, which doesn't make you a cool parent but a passive one.
Taurus parents often pick and choose when to be the authority figure, which might make you cool in your kid's eyes but is ultimately a bad idea.
9. LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
You're constantly seeking harmony and collaboration in life, Libra. When it comes to parenting, you want to be seen as a friend to your children, not as an authority figure. You believe in being fair and sharing everything: secrets, dreams, challenges, everything.
What makes you a cool parent is your gentle approach to parenting. You would rather talk issues out with your kids than ground them; parenting is a partnership to you. What makes you less cool, though, is how delusional you can be at times.
You think your kids will always be open and honest with you without hesitation that you often sweep issues under the rug. If something were wrong, they would tell you, right? Maybe not. Rather than seeing the world through rose-colored glasses, practice being a realist.
Sh*t will happen, but if you take a more active role in your children's lives, they'll learn to see you as the person they can trust and come to always, not just sometimes.
10. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
One of your biggest fears is raising children who are close-minded, Sagittarius. That is why you always try to teach them about life in as many different settings as possible. Annual family trips, real-world examples, and crazy stories about your past prove to them that there's more to life than what they learn in the classroom.
Your love for adventure will broaden their minds and horizons – very cool of you. As a parent, you are also very encouraging and enthusiastic. You want your kids to know that you will stand behind them, no matter what they do in life.
When they're younger, they might think your honesty is a little TMI, but they'll definitely appreciate later on in life. Just make sure that you don't get too comfortable around your children; you can be friends, but you also have to be the adult, too. If you spend too much time being laid-back and chill, they'll take advantage of your authority.
11. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
What makes you a cool parent, Aquarius, is your progressive approach to parenting. You're kind of the "anti-parent" of astrology – you don't believe in strict rules or societal norms because you believe that everyone is different and deserves to be their true selves.
You want your kids to be their own people and live their own lives, as long as they do it with kindness and compassion. You have a very open-minded outlook on life, and while you never want to fit your kids into certain molds, you're not opposed to sharing stories about your past mistakes in hopes that they make better decisions than you.
The one thing you should work on, though, is being a little more human around your children. It's easy to forget that you're the one your kids look up to, so being more emotionally available is important.
12. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
One of the things that makes you a cool parent is your insistence that your children be unapologetically themselves. You believe in originality, so you're most likely to let your kids dye their hair crazy colors, wear whatever they want, and express themselves in different ways, gender stereotypes be damned.
You also have an adventurous streak that you enjoy sharing with your kids through annual family vacays and weekend getaways. You are a big advocate for communication, so you make sure that there is a constant dialogue in your house.
You prefer your kids to tell you things, rather than keeping secrets from you, so you make an effort to listen to them and be as honest as possible with them. Not only does this make you a cool parent, but it gives you a chance to practice what you preach – don't be the parent who can't follow the rules they enforce for their kids.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.