“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried out on him personally.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Ok, so maybe this one is a stretch. Don’t get me wrong. I am not intending to liken certain authoritarian parenting styles as slavery, but old honest Abe does make a good point here. We tend to forget that our children are learning and growing every day. Why not extend them the same grace and dignity that we expect other people to liberally shower our way?

Think of it this way, would you want to be your parent? Would you like to grow up with someone who encourages or someone who berates? Would you feel comfortable coming to someone like you with sensitive and embarrassing matters? You never really know how influential you are as a parent. Take that role seriously, and ask yourself the tough questions. That way, you can’t go wrong.