All parents want their
children to grow up happy, healthy and secure. But sometimes, in
their efforts to give as much love as possible, moms and dads
relax the limits a little too much, which ends up sending a mixed
message to the children. The good news is that you can maintain
boundaries without sacrificing closeness. Here, a few situations
that demonstrate how.
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Question: My parents always told me to do things "because I say so!" I promised myself I'd give my child reasons for my decisions. What I'm finding is that it seems to encourage my five-year-old to argue. If I say she can't have candy before dinner because it will spoil her appetite, she insists that it won't. If I still say no, she throws a tantrum and calls me names. I don't want to be repressive, but I don't want to spoil her either. What's the answer?
I]
Question: My parents always told me to do things "because I say so!" I promised myself I'd give my child reasons for my decisions. What I'm finding is that it seems to encourage my five-year-old to argue. If I say she can't have candy before dinner because it will spoil her appetite, she insists that it won't. If I still say no, she throws a tantrum and calls me names. I don't want to be repressive, but I don't want to spoil her either. What's the answer?
