Susan Merrill

Every child is disrespectful at some point in their life. In our house it happens more than I would like.  Mark and I share our thoughts on the best defense for disrespect.

Do you ever feel guilty saying “no” to your kids? I do. But if you never said “no” how could you teach your children self-discipline? Think about it. If we as moms never say no to our kids, how will they learn to say no to themselves (and others) later in life?  Self-discipline isn’t self-taught, it’s learned through experience. It’s up to us to show our children how to deal with their emotions when the answer is “no”, and how to handle using the word “no“ with wisdom and responsibility.

So say “no” to your kids without guilt. Be confident in the knowledge that instant gratification won’t help your children learn to make wise choices, but learning to accept – and to say “no” to themselves will build character and self-discipline.

These children were given the opportunity to exercise self-discipline in the Marshmallow Experiment (see below). This would be an interesting experiment to try with your child. Knowing how your child handles a tempting situation will help you in training them for their future.

Can’t view the video? Go here.

If only it were that easy.  Here is a look at a dorm, and a few ideas on what we should have done, year one, with our oldest.  Plus, we have put together a list of what your college student might need to take with them.

Can’t view the video? Go here.