god the father

^^excellent display name btw

But isn't one of the early (and insistently repeated) lessons of parenting that so much (especially your kids themselves) is out of your control?

Yes, it's often said to the parents (which is supersilly cause you have to be really thick not to realize this). But the child doesn't realize. I am so aware of this all the time: how I'm setting all these standards for them. And how it evolves and also in a tiny way adapts to which child I'm reprimanding (for example).

I sometimes become extremely strict just... to show Ophelia that ultimately mommy is the "boss".

I very early on decided that no one--especially me--would call my daughter "princess" for a variety of reasons, mainly so she won't think she is one, but also because I can't handle the burden of being king.

Ha. I read a card the other week when picking out birthdays cards for the 5000 pisceans in my life that said something along the lines of 'Happy Birthday to our Princess!' then inside '(we only call you that because it makes us the king and queen)'

beeps started calling my mom 'princess' and we have no idea why.

Ha Ive been cwary of this as well, most gender theory Ive read is bunk but I dont want a spoilt little princess type.

I may be telling myself lies but Im not feeling the god theory much. I dont know any parent who thinks or acts like God, most just do the best they can, children otoh lack the critical skills to make high level judgements,is= ought, maybe an inbuilt search for order, fear of unknown etc buggered if I know -theyre passive dogmatic little critters though and extremes of parental permissivness or authoritariansim aint healthy.

Im more of a clown than God to my little girl I imagine

i'm not sure i've ever felt like god. the imperiousness in the relationship is much more on the child side -- they're all about their own wants and needs, and they expect me to fulfill them. which isn't to deny the obvious power relationship, which they might resent but they of coure recognize. they know who's in control. but they try to circumvent it as much as possible. which maybe is how god would feel, i don't know.

but sure, the conception of the father-god is derived from the parent-child relationship. and not just god, all authority figures to some degree. there's been a lot of political stuff written about how liberals/democrats are the nurturing "mommy" and conservatives/republicans are the stern punishing "daddy." it's hard to escape those models of power.