Do you want your children to cry when you deny them sugar-laden snacks, cake and cola?

Or when they struggle with childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes or issues with their body shape?

Do you want your children to cry when you make them do their homework and reading (even during school holidays)?

Or do you want them to cry when they don’t know the answers in class, are embarrassed that they haven’t handed in their project or can’t find a reasonable job in the future?

Do you want your children to cry when you follow through on consequences for their poor behaviour?

Or do you want them to cry when they eventually are forced to face the real-life consequences of poor decisions that they will make when they’re older?

Do you want your children to cry for a few moments today?

Or do you want them to cry in the future for much longer?

Do you want to make tough decisions now?

Or would you prefer to have to cope with tougher consequences in the years ahead?

As a parent, I love my kids and I would prefer it if my children never had to cry.

But that’s not what happens in the real world.

The reality is that we have a responsibility to make decisions on behalf of our kids that they won’t always understand and that will occasionally bring tears.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many parents try to avoid their responsibilities to their children and take the soft option.  They attempt to pacify their kids with short-term decisions that may halt the tears in the moment, but will cause much more pain in the years ahead.

It doesn’t work.

It never works.

Think long-term, make the tough decisions now and I suspect that in the years ahead, your children will be much happier.

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