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Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Internet fiercely divided over former teacher's 11 'non-negotiable rules' for her kids
A former teacher has left the internet fiercely divided after she shared the 11 'non-negotiable' rules that she set for her kids. Lizzie Gaines, from Texas, recently went viral after she opened up about the strict regulations that she and her husband had implemented for their three children: Jake, 13, Will, nine, and Birdie, six. The ex-educator, who now works in real estate, explained in an Instagram clip that there are 11 things that she and her husband, Josh, 'expect' from their sons and daughter. But the now-viral video launched a massive argument between viewers, as some people on the web felt her rules were a little too severe. 'POV: You and your husband are former public school teachers and you have 11 non-negotiables for your kids,' she began in the video. Lizzie revealed that her first rule was that her kids must refer to 'any and all adults' as 'ma'am' and 'sir.' Next, she said they must adhere to a strict 'backpack and shoes routine' so they don't have to 'search for them in the morning.' She also said its her kids' responsibility to plug in their school devices when they get home, and remember to put them back in their backpacks before leaving each morning. 'It's not my job to tell you if you have homework,' she added. 'Your teacher had it on the board, your agenda, and reminded you in class five times. 'And if you get in trouble at school, we will support your teachers.' Lizzie's next rule was that it's up to her kids to pack their own lunches and to remember to bring them in the morning. In addition, she said they will 'eat what she serves' for dinner, and 'if they don't like it, they will sit with the rest of the family while they eat.' The mom-of-three continued, 'Dinner time is a sacred, we're going to be pleasant, get along, and share about our day... it's some of our only uninterrupted family alone time with no distractions.' Lizzie's other rules included picking up after yourself and not leaving dirty clothes on your floor. 'You get a phone because it's convenient, but it will go away if abused,' read another regulation. 'It charges in my room every night and I will check what's on it.' Lastly, she wrote, 'Never get too big for your britches or my kisses.' Many people rushed to the comment section to share their thoughts, and while some praised Lizzie's take, others were quick to slam her rules. 'Marriage and family therapist here who specializes in trauma and attachment. Please don't tell your children you will support/believe their teachers/another adult over them,' one person wrote. 'I work with adult survivors of sexual abuse, this is probably one of the number one causes, feeling like their parents wouldn't believe them/they will get in trouble if they tell.' 'Forcing your kid to sit hungry and watch everyone eat just because you made food you knew they wouldn't like is extremely messed up,' another added. 'No offense but I'm glad you're not my mom,' announced someone else. '"I wonder why my kids hate me,"' read a fourth comment. A fifth said, 'This just made me realize maybe my mom isn't so bad.' 'Tell me this is satire. This is so concerning,' a different user scathed. Despite the negativity, many viewers said they loved her rules. 'I smell stability, routine, respect, accountability... all the good things that PARENTS should be handling,' one user praised. 'These comments are blowing my mind. Kids need and crave boundaries and stability,' agreed another. But the now-viral video launched a massive argument between viewers, as some people on the web felt her rules were a little too severe 'My husband was a teacher for almost a decade and left teaching because parents just don't teach their kids anything anymore. 'The disrespect and entitlement is unreal these days. Love these - we parent the same way at our house and have two strong, independent, respectful boys who love their momma/daddy!' 'As a fellow teacher, thank you for instilling boundaries, respect, and consistency into your children,' someone else gushed. 'And it is 100 percent OKAY to see what your children are doing on their devices! There are so many things kids get into online that they have no ability to understand.' 'And that's how you raise CAPABLE adults,' a different comment read. 'Good job mom! 'I'm a mom of teens and trust me this lays the ground for a strong foundation! You can tell by all the push back you're doing it right!' Lizzie addressed some of the backlash to the Today show recently. She said, 'No one in our house is being starved. Our kids know that they can eat what's offered. If they don't like it, which is very, very rare, they can grab some fruit from the fridge. 'We're not short-order cooks. I'm not making you chicken nuggets while the rest of us have a nice, healthy meal.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Parents' List Of 10 'Non-Negotiable' Rules Has The Comments Section On Fire
Lizzie Gaines, a former teacher turned realtor, is best known for chronicling the renovation of her 1990s Colonial home in Texas. Recently, however, she offered her followers a glimpse into another carefully crafted space: her parenting style. In a now-viral Instagram video, Gaines outlines the set of rules she and her husband, Josh, have established for their three children: Jake, 13, Will, 9, and Birdie, 6. 'Parenting is nuanced, right? And nobody wants to watch a reel where I unpacked all those nuances, so people filled in the gaps with their own assumptions,' Gaines tells While some critics viewed her approach as overly structured — one commenter called it a 'dictatorship,' and others joked about anticipating a future therapy bill — many praised Gaines for establishing clear boundaries and fostering respect and independence in her children. The Gaines family rules include: You say 'Yes, ma'am / No, ma'am / Yes, sir / No, sir' to all adults. Always. Backpacks and shoes go in the same spot every day after school. It makes mornings smoother. You're responsible for charging your school devices at the station next to your backpack. Do your homework — without nudging: It gets done, packed and ready. No reminders from Mom and Dad. If you get in trouble at school, we stand with your teachers. Pack your lunch and grab it in the morning, otherwise you can buy it at the school cafeteria. You will eat what's served at dinner. If you don't like it, no problem, but you'll still join us at the table. Dinner time is a sacred, no-distraction zone. We'll be kind, get along and share about our day. Pick up after yourself. Phones are privileges, not rights: You have one because it's useful; Abuse it, and it's gone. It charges in our room at night, and yes, we check it. Some of the most controversial expectations revolved around food. As one person wrote in the comments, 'Forcing your kid to sit hungry and watch everyone eat just because you made food you knew they wouldn't like is extremely messed up.' 'No one in our house is being starved,' Gaines tells TODAY, calmly. She's taking the criticism in stride, firm in her beliefs about how to raise a family. 'Our kids know that they can eat what's offered. If they don't like it, which is very, very rare, they can grab some fruit from the fridge,' Gaines explains. 'We're not short-order cooks. I'm not making you chicken nuggets while the rest of us have a nice, healthy meal.' For Gaines, a working mother, it's also about instilling gratitude. 'Taking the time to prepare a meal is an act of love, and I make sure they know that,' she says. 'I'm not doing it just for myself — I'm doing it for all of you It's also simply good manners, in any setting, to try the food and be thankful for it. And a nice side effect is that they've all developed pretty refined palates.' As for Gaines' rule about being 'pleasant' at the dinner table, she clarifies that it doesn't mean ignoring conflict at all costs, especially if someone has hard a rough day and needs to vent. 'What I meant was, we're not going to intentionally poke at each other or try to irritate one another,' she says. Gaines also addressed her guidelines for devices: all electronics must be charged in her bedroom overnight, and while her son Will, an eighth grader, has a cell phone, she reserves the right to check it at any time. The former eighth-grade teacher, says she witnessed 'some pretty tragic things happen to kids,' events they'll never fully recover from, because their digital footprint will follow them for the rest of their lives. When it comes to siding with teachers over her children, Gaines says draws from her own experiences in academia. 'When I reached out to a parent about a behavior issue in class, it made my job so much easier and helped the child in the long run if they parent approached it form a supportive place,' she says. 'If they automatically assumed I was picking on their child or singling them out, it becomes a me-versus-them situation, and that doesn't help anyone.' Gaines Instagram reel has be seen nearly 19 million times and garnered thousands of reactions: 'Tell me this is satire! This is so concerning.' 'As a teacher, all I can say is THANK YOU!!' 'For a moment I thought I was reading about military ground rules.' 'If you don't agree with these, you're what's wrong with society.' ''Why don't my kids talk to me anymore?'' 'School counselor here. THANK YOU MOM AND DAD!! Your children are safe and can operate within your boundaries until they are emotionally developed enough to operate in their own.' This article was originally published on
