Parenting with Resolve: The Hard Choices for Raising Responsible Kids

By Greg Baer M.D.

April 23, 2024

Mark talked to me about how his son, Brian, 20, was becoming steadily more rebellious and irresponsible. Mark was trying to apply consequences, which included cutting off his previously liberal funding. It was obvious that he didnā€™t enjoy holding Brian accountable. On each such occasion, Brian vigorously expressed his disapproval and anger toward Mark.

ā€œAt some point,ā€ I said, ā€œif Brian keeps up this behavior, you have to be willing to escalate the consequences to whatever level it takes to get through to him. If you donā€™t, heā€™ll see your weakness. He will use it as a handle to manipulate you in whatever way he wants. You might even have to tell him to live somewhere other than in your house. Somewhere that he has little to no responsibility for anything.ā€

ā€œWell,ā€ Mark said, ā€œI know I could never let my son live on the street.ā€

ā€œOh, but it might come to that. And if you back off at that point, heā€™ll have no reason to ever change his behavior.ā€

As loving parents, it is our job to teach our children to feel loved, to be loving, and to be responsible. Sometimes the means we use to accomplish that end might seem harsh.

But if we become tentative about applying a particular consequence, that consequence becomes the stumbling block to our being the parents they need. Effectively, we choose the poison that harms our children.

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About the author 

Greg Baer, M.D.

I am the founder of The Real LoveĀ® Company, Inc, a non-profit organization. Following the sale of my successful ophthalmology practice I have dedicated the past 25 years to teaching people a remarkable process that replaces all of life's "crazy" with peace, confidence and meaning in various aspects of their personal lives, including parenting, marriages, the workplace and more.

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