Recently there has been debate about two very different parenting styles: strict and free-range, with free-range stirring up the most controversy. Wikipedia states that free-range parenting is "the concept of raising children in the spirit of encouraging them to function independently and with limited parental supervision, in accordance of their age of development and with a reasonable acceptance of realistic personal risks."

That doesn't sound too bad right? Well, many believe it to be the epitome of bad parenting. Being a child of parents who allowed me to make most of my own decisions and trusted me to make the right ones, I hate that people are dragging the idea of independent children through the mud. That being said, I'm here to dispute any misconceptions about free-range parenting and to show that it can work.

1. The parents are lazy.

Some argue that free-range parenting is actually harder than strict parenting, and in some ways, I agree. My parents had to stand back, watch, and hope that I didn't get myself into trouble. They had to let go of the reins earlier than most parents, which can be difficult, especially because they didn't want to. They knew, though, that allowing me independence would better me in the long run. My parents were anything but lazy. They both came to almost all my school and sporting events and continue to do so today.

2. The child is more susceptible to injury and danger.

When I was young, I had to do things like hold hands when crossing the street, and much like most parents, mine eventually let me stop doing that, but they also let me stop doing a lot of things many don't. I didn't have a curfew, Life360, or an angry mom yelling at me when I was about to try a kick-flip on a skateboard. It only takes one bad situation or skinned knee to make a child realize that they need to be more careful. To this day, I always carry mace and weigh the pros and cons before doing something remotely stupid.

3. The child won't be successful.

When you push a child to do their homework or take away their electronics when they don't do well on a test, you aren't allowing them to learn important lessons. My parents stayed out of my grades and school business because from a young age I knew what was expected from me and just did it. Because they allowed me to form my own ideas on hard work and diligence, I am now a first-generation college student with a B average and nearly perfect attendance.

4. The parent is neglecting the child.

Free-range parenting doesn't mean that you are ignoring your child or that you don't care about them. Yes, I was allowed to stay up late if I wanted to, and yes, I was allowed to eat whatever whenever, but that doesn't mean my parents didn't love me. My parents knew that allowing me to make those types of decisions would make me more responsible. I quickly learned that if I wanted to feel better I would go to sleep earlier and eat better food.

5. This parenting style is only something busy parents do.

Both my parents worked, but they didn't work too much to need a more "lax" parenting style. They still managed to take me to school, practice, and other events. They still had time to cook dinner and watch TV with me or play with me. They had time to do the things most "good" parents would say they do with/for their kids. My parents chose free-range parenting because they didn't want to suffocate me. They knew I would grow and learn on my own and there was no need to hinder that, not because they worked late sometimes.

6. The child will misbehave.

When I was around 3, my parents put me in the corner for the first time. All it took was that one moment to make me realize I didn't like the feeling of being in trouble. I was never put in the corner again, given a detention, or been in trouble with the law. People believe that there's no punishment with free-range parenting, but there is, it's just usually few and far between. When you give a child room to learn on their own, you give them the chance to better understand themselves and their morals.

7. There are no boundaries

I would say this is the biggest misconception of all. Although I was granted freedom from a young age, I was very well aware that it could be taken away at any time. My parents didn't sugarcoat things. I knew that my friends, phone, car, and other things I enjoyed would be on the line if I got myself into trouble. This thought alone kept me from doing things I knew I wasn't supposed to and actually helped my relationship with my parents. Since I was able to hold myself accountable, it gave me more time to get to know my parents as people, not just disciplinarians.

Now, I'm not saying that free-ranging parenting will work for every family or that it's the best way of doing things. What I am saying is that you should give it a chance. I know that I'm thankful every day that my parents gave me the tools for independence and self-exploration. If you give your kid a little freedom, they might just surprise you.