We talk so much about leaving a better planet for our kids, that we forget about leaving better kids to this planet.  Educate your children and say "no" to them once in awhile.  Talking about discipline is where you are going to either love me or hate me, and by no way am I the perfect parent when it comes to discipline.  But, lately, I have noticed a lot of things that truly scare me about the generation we are raising.

Kids are a precious, dirty, smelly, annoying, loud, glorious gift.  And your goal with this small mortal being is to raise them from a child to a responsible adult.  It seems, however, that we are getting fewer responsible adults and a lot more bigger children.  Why is this?  Why do parents seem almost afraid of their kids?  Have, we, as the parents become more lazy when it comes to proper discipline?

This isn't just about discipline.  It's as though parents are trying to protect their children from disappointment.  Why is that?  If we don't let our kids face this, how will they handle it as adults?  Parents also have less expectations from their kids.  Why?  Kids, like pets, (yes, I just compared children to pets) are easily trained.  Not just in the potty department, but they can be trained in doing chores, homework and manners.

I will hear stories on Facebook stating "My 5 year old still won't go to bed!"  What is this?  What do you mean your 5 year old won't go to bed?  Put your child to bed and tell them to stay there.  (Note: I'm not referring to children with autism or other disorders)  If they don't, issue a punishment.  Whatever form of discipline you choose, stick with it consistently until it's understood by the receiver.  If you say no and then no again and again and then the 5th time you give in, you just taught that child what your breaking point is and they have trained you well.

Parents who are afraid to put their foot down, usually have kids who step on their toes.

If I had to offer one bit of advice to anyone trying to figure out how to get hold of this discipline "thing", I would suggest having a routine.  Kids thrive off routine and knowing what comes next for them.  You'll appreciate it, too.  Bedtime has always been 8pm in my house from the moment they came home from the hospital.  Now that the oldest is 14 and the youngest is 4, I can always look forward to 8pm.  Because, I know that my quiet time is coming.  They look forward to it, because they are tired.

End rant.  Thanks for listening.

 

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