Let me give you a tip. If you want to become a more authoritative parent, if you are going to insist on your child being honest and self-controlled, then sit down with your child and say so. Every household has rules, most of which are implicit and unspoken. Matters of habit. If you are going to change the rules, tell your child what you are doing and why. Parents who explicitly announce, “Things Are Changing As Of Today,” then enforce the new rules and are not cowed when their child yells, “You are totally ruining my life—I hate you!” are surprised by how dramatic the change is. Not in one
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