i’m not talking about a dog just in case you were wondering. i’m referring to parents who threatens their kids with statements that suppose to bring fear into a child’s life but it doesn’t have any weight to it. i call these, empty statements.
have you ever heard a parent (maybe you are that parent) say to their child, “just wait until you get home, you are going to get it” or “you will be punished” only to find out at the end of the day, it was never carried out? if i could get a dollar from every parent who have done this i would be a millionaire many times over.
most kids have come to realize this statement for the most part has no substance. it is empty. it has no bite.
many times parents are so overwhelmed by life, frustrated or just being tired, that they don’t have the energy to follow through on threats they make to their kids. other times it is that the child has the incredible knack of knowing how to get around such threat. for some kids its the whining. others it is the crying. still for others it is befriending the parent with all the kindest deeds and words. i believe the latter seem to work best.
what i do know about parent / child dynamics is that a parent need to follow through on the promises and threats they make to their children. children learn to trust their parents when they keep their word. they can count on the parents following through. it teaches them consistency. i do know there are times when parents may have to change their mind, but this should be the exception and not the norm. whenever there cannot be a follow through that child needs an explanation so they just don’t think the parent forgot.
my recommendation is that if you as a parent are not going to follow through, do not make the threats or the promises. put a bite into your bark. you’ll be glad you did!
"who are you & what do you want" ... good read"
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