Don't Befriend Your Children - Parent Them!

I wish I had a nickel every time I saw parents shaking their heads in awe as their kids refuse to listen to them. There are many reasons why children don't obey their parents , but I am only going to talk about the "friendship" that some parents establish with their children.
There are far too many parents that think they should be their children's "friend".  That's nonsense!  And here's why. When you become your kids friend, you lose all authority over them. Think about it. If your daughter's friend told her that she had to be home at 9:00pm, do you think she would feel obligated to comply? Or, if your son's friend told him he needed to clean his room before he went outside to play, that he would do it? Why should your child do what you say if you are just their "friend"?

Children need parents to parent them.  Children do best when they understand their role. How can you justify being angry with your 16 year old for coming in late when you did not set that expectation as a parent?

My Advice:

• Set expectations for your children. Children flourish when they know what is expected of them.
• Keep the lines of communication open. They will come to you when they need to.
  
• Mean what you say and say what you mean. They will respect you for it.
• Teach children early that their actions have consequences  good and bad.
• Don't be afraid to discipline your children. They won't hate you.
• And most of all, let them know that they are loved and accepted.They will trust you.
  

Parenting is not easy, but it is a must. The earlier you start the better.