One life skill all kids need to learn is how to set limits for
themselves. You are their first teacher in how to set healthy limits.
While your kids may complain about your limits, these parameters provide
a sense of safety. Your kids know where the boundaries are. They know
you are strong enough to enforce those boundaries.
Setting limits is necessary in your role as a parent. Your kids will
push back and resist at times. At this point some parents give in to
avoid the stress of enforcing the limits. These parents have reported
undesirable results like:
- 3-year-old who regularly goes to bed at midnight
- 5-year-old who only eats goldfish crackers and macaroni and cheese
- 8-year-old who is obese
- 11-year-old who is addicted to watching porn
- 13-year-old who is up until 4:00 AM on the internet
- 14-year-old who does not help around the house
- 16-year-old who is failing classes
All these situations developed over weeks, months, or years. You can
occasionally bend the rules. However, problems develop when you
consistently don't enforce healthy limits. You experience the immediate
relief of your child being satisfied but is it worth the future
consequences?
Setting Essential Limits
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