Being cool and your son or daughter's best friend is NOT the way to be a good parent or get close to your children. Children want parents who guide them and not a friend. That's what kids their age are for. You can be friendly with your child and do things with them, but you must always maintain your role as parent. I took my children on many an RV trip, backpacking, … [Read more...] about Be a Dad, NOT a Friend
Discipline
Disciplining Older Children
The most important thing is for parents to establish good discipline when children are young. That sets the tone and lets children know you mean business and it will be much easier to discipline them when they are older. There may be some who read this who have meant will, but didn't go a good job of disciplining their children when they were younger. Don't feel like it's too … [Read more...] about Disciplining Older Children
Undisciplined Older Children
Ideally, good discipline is established when children are young. But there are parents who have let their children run the show and now can't understand why their children ignore them and refuse to obey. I've heard these parents say terrible things about their children as if it was their child's fault. Of course their are exceptions. Some kids may become undisciplined even … [Read more...] about Undisciplined Older Children
Grandparent Involvement in Their Adult Children’s Discipline
My son and his family came to visit over the Labor Day Weekend. We went to see the famous waterfall near my home. We had to hike about a half mile and my son was carrying Lucca in a backpack. Lucca’s shoe dropped off when we stopped for a drink and my son looked down at my granddaughter and said, “Layla, would you please pick up Lucca’s shoe?” She folded her arms and turned her … [Read more...] about Grandparent Involvement in Their Adult Children’s Discipline
Children Who Don’t Respond to Punishment
I’ve had a number of people talk to me about children who don’t respond to discipline. For example, a child is misbehaving at the dinner table. You warn them and they continue. You ask him or her to leave the table and go to their room. Great deal, especially if they have a computer, stereo, or TV in their room. (Important Note: Children should not have these in their room. … [Read more...] about Children Who Don’t Respond to Punishment