Page 14 - Perfect Parents, Perfect Children, and Other Fairy Tales

matter what. But that doesn’t mean that we enjoy
being around them when they behave that way!

Friends are a different story. They come and they
go, and children need to work hard to keep them as

friends through their childhood and teen years.

Much has been said about how homes should be a

democracy. However, if that were to happen, the
children, often outnumbering the parents, would
run the show. That is certainly not an ideal situation

and should not happen. Parents need to be in charge
and be willing to make decisions that would be best

for the family as a whole and for each individual.

Children actually like that security. They will never

tell you that, but they do. They may vent loud and
long, but in reality, those fences are comforting.

Even though teens say that they will be fine and
nothing will happen, they are still probably scared
and might actually be hoping that you will say “no”

so that they have someone else to blame. (I have
told my children that I am perfectly happy being the

bad guy in this situation.)

Even though they rant and rave, they might secretly

be glad that you are watching out for them.

Even though they can’t say that they know we are
right, they still know.

On the other hand, that phrase is often used as

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