Consistency is Challenging

At times, parents fail to set the rules, stick to them, or allow their children to experience consequences because of their own fears as parents. Parents fear the child not liking them or being angry at them in the moment. We fear that the child will somehow lose out on a friend because of a rule or lose a future opportunity because of a consequence. In other words, sometimes parents fail to do the tough stuff because of their own fears and their own needs, instead of doing the right thing, in the long run, for their child. At times, it takes a lot of thoughtfulness and strength to do the right thing, instead of the easy, feel-good thing for children. West County Psychological Assoc.