That is the question. Or should I say the issue a lot of parents struggle with. I’ve seen both sides of the issue work well for different families; some parents are very strict with their children and have raised well respected, successful children and some parents who aren’t so strict have also raised well respected, successful children who are now adults.

On the flip side of that, I’ve seen parents who are strict with their children end up with pre-teens and teens that resent that they weren’t able to make choices on their own or who weren’t allowed as much freedom as their friends, as well as parents who have raised their children with a “lighter” hand, so-to-speak, and their children have grown up to be independent, successful people. [Read more...]