Here’s another summer re-run from the early days of the blog, so maybe you’ve already seen this one. But if your kids are driving you crazy this summer, this might be able to help.
For a post on WHY we practice Parenting With Authority, see here.
I started out to make a list of rules for Parenting with Authority. But it turned out that all the rules I wrote out just ended up coming back to one single concept:
First off, it works for every type of parent. Do you really, really want your kids to clear their dishes, or perhaps not run full speed into the parking lot because you’re too pregnant to catch them? Great.
This will work for you. Just always mean what you say, especially about dishes and parking lots. Don’t mind if your kids eat pudding off their mittens? Terrific. You don’t have to say any things about that.
It’s just that easy. But in case you have become accustomed to my super-duper long posts, here come a lot more words . . .
1. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: So when you say it’s time to leave the park, it IS actually time to leave the park.
2. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: And never lie to them.
So I don’t say, “Nope, sorry, the crackers are all gone,” as I stash the rest of the crackers under the stroller. When what I mean is, “No sweetie, you may not have any more crackers. It’s okay to feel a little hungry, we’ll have dinner when we get home.” Or, “No, I brought those crackers for the baby. You’ll have to be a big girl and wait until we get to the car.” And that’s it. Mean what you say.
3. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: And get up when necessary.
If I told him not to, and he still is, I’m going to have to get up. I get the concept well-ingrained in a toddler before the next baby comes along. It’s better not to start the process when you’re nursing a newborn. Because a toddler will surely call your bluff.
4. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: Even if they are sad or mad or loud.
Okay, okay, sshhh, you can have them.
5. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: But obstinance is not a virtue.
6. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: And have rules and keep them.
Established rules create comfort and clarity in a home. Without them, everything is up for discussion. And by “discussion” I mean whining, pestering, and finagling. For instance, in our house kids are allowed to play Wii under the following conditions (for more on this topic see here):
- Done with schoolwork, chores, and practices.
- Someone has agreed to play with you.
- It is dark, or raining, or over 100 degrees, or a Sunday.
So, when they ask me if they can play Wii, I can turn it around and ask them if they can. If they haven’t met the conditions, they can’t play. There’s no confusion so there’s no incentive to whine or pester or finagle.
I try to have set rules that explain how we’ll accomplish all of our routine activities. But they only work if I only very rarely bend or break them.
7. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: But you don’t have to be a bully about it.
8. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: Give clear consequences and then follow through with them.
So I don’t say, “If you leave your clothes in the bathroom again I will make a big pile of all your clothes and light them on fire.” Since I probably won’t do that. I DO say, “If you kick the counter again, you will stand for the rest of lunch.” Then I follow through if necessary. Be calm but firm. Don’t get mad. Just mean what you say.
For excellent advice on particularly effective punishments, I like Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ray Guarendi. Dr. Ray really focuses on the concept of consequences for kids, and the book is funny and charming.
9. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: And as far as I know you don’t have a crystal ball.
I don’t ever get pressured into promising something that I can’t necessarily deliver.
I won’t make promises about anything in the future: be it what they will have for snack when they wake up or whether they can do a particular craft after their school work is done. Because I don’t know the future. Say I tell my kids we can do a craft as soon as we’ve all finished our math lessons. What if IT TAKES THEM SOOOO LONG TO FINISH that Jesus comes back before we’re done? I would hate for my kids’ last earthly thought to be, “Hey, she said we could make play dough.”
I will take a quick moment here to say that always meaning what you say doesn’t mean that life doesn’t sometimes get in the way. Plans do change. Kids need to be able to learn to handle disappointment and control their emotions.
I never promise to “make it up” to them, or say they can go next time for sure, because I don’t know what’s going to be happening next time. In fact I never say “I promise” to them at all. It’s right there in the sermon on the mount: “But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:34-37)
I happen to think “We’ll see, We’ll see” is okay too.
10. ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY: And convince them that resistance is futile.
I have no idea if this is true, and Google wasn’t particularly helpful when I tried to figure it out, but let’s just pretend it’s true, for argument’s sake.
I heard once that if you have two aggressive fish in a tank, you can put a clear divider in there and the fish will throw themselves at it and try to attack each other for a while. But eventually, they will decide it’s not possible to get through. Then you can remove the divider and they’ll just each stay happily on their own side, because they are convinced that they won’t be able to get through. That’s the goal of Parenting With Authority.
If your kids are utterly convinced that you ALWAYS MEAN WHAT YOU SAY, then why in the world would they bother to not listen to you? They know it won’t work. And they know they’ll just get in trouble.
But if sometimes you mean what you say, but mostly you give in, (especially if you give in because your child is sad or mad or loud) all you do is teach them that being sad or mad or loud is the way to accomplish things. You force them to be unhappy so that they can get what they think they want. BUT, if being sad is NEVER an effective way to get what they think they want, children quickly realize that they might as well be happy. I wouldn’t want to be a person whose kids listen to their teachers and coaches and tutors, but don’t listen to me, because I do NOT always mean what I say. My kids are still often lazy, or selfish, or forgetful, or even argumentative, but they are almost never willfully disobedient.
Because they are at least as smart as fish.
This is something I definitely need to work on with my kids..thanks for the reminder. I've gotten better at not making empty threats and not going back on my word, but I do still have some ways to go.
I really love this Kendra, and thank you very much for writing and sharing it. I struggle with parenting with authority – but I keep working at it. I hope many moms who have a similar struggle happen upon it, because your articulation is very helpful.
This is totally not applicable to my life right now since I'm not a parent, but this is such good advice I pinned for later. Thanks for sharing!
I read this a while back, and really loved all the advice. It was great to re-read, and consider how much better I can work some of it in with my toddler.
This is an excellent post. My parenting philosophy differs from yours in many ways, but I think this is a great basis for any good parent. I really appreciate how well-organized you wrote it and how you include examples for each of your points. This is one I will print, read over again, journal on, and share with my husband. I think it will help us be better parents.
Thanks Barbie (and everyone)! I really think that's the beauty of having figured out this rule: that it works with every style of parenting.
No matter if you're strict or lax, organized or easy-going, you want your kids to believe that your word means something.
No matter what your parenting style, I can't believe there's anyone who wants to live in a houseful of children who don't respect or listen to them. I really think that meaning what you say is the key to preventing that.
I has made ALL THE DIFFERENCE for my day to day sanity and the happiness of my children.
Thank you for reposting this! I had just printed it out last week and read it several times this week. I'm struggling with discipline with my 23 month old, and your scenarios read like you were spying on my life 😉
I've just found your blog and love it. Thanks for the post. We move worked hard at parenting with authority and feel we have pretty well behaved kids because of it. I think I'm going to send this post to a few of my friends who desperate need to read these words!
Jumped here from Happy Catholic, glad she linked to you, excellent column! I sent this link to my kids, for them to use with grandkids.
Aside: the column title gave me a chuckle, thinking of The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Thanks for that, too!
Kendra, I need help with this! I have not been good at always meaning what I say, but I WANT to be, and I want to start now. I am worried that its too late though, my kids are 6, 3, 1 and baby on the way. Im worried that my 6 and 3 already know they can get away with things, so how do I start doing this and get them to follow along? Maybe its just going to be a rough first month or so? I thought I remembered reading that you didnt start this way with your first, so Im wondering how you got him to adjust to the new stricter rules?
You can start this any time. Seriously. There will be an adjustment period, but honestly, it will probably be harder for YOU to adjust than for your kids. There are so many parents who say, he listens to his teacher, but he just won't listen to me! That's because he knows the teacher means what she says, but mom mostly doesn't.
You just have to start. You're right, I was three kids in before I really took discipline seriously. It takes time and the understanding that it's an adjustment period and there will be upheaval. You just have to be committed and as consistent as possible and trust yourself and forgive yourself and try again every morning.
It gets easier!
The willful disobedience has hit an all-time record high at my house. My kids literally look at me, in the eye, and say "no,I'm not going to." It is maddening. It just started happening and they are very deliberate about it. I thought I was good about always meaning what I say, but I'm going to make a fresh start of it. I am going to start meaning what I say- every single time. Wish me luck, and some prayers would help.
Same here! Somehow, without me realizing, the lunatics took over the asylum this summer. I saw this post at exactly the right time. SO I have a feeling I'm going to have some very unhappy campers this weekend, because its time to prove that "if you don't pick up your toys and books and respect what you have, it will be passed on to s kid who does!". Less stuff, less mess, less stress, right? Right?! Of course, with 7 and another on the way, we are already drowning in "stuff". Doesn't help that I'm a dedicated pack rat!
I have sent maybe a dozen mom friends to this blog post over the years since I stumbled upon it, because it is the best parenting book I’ve ever read. I’ve noted a general… fear? ignorance? about parenting with authority, but it really has made a difference in our family. Other people notice that we’re more peaceful and our kids are more apt to listen! Just returning here this morning to say thank you!
Thanks Maggie!
Hi Kendra! I am new to you blog. I am really liking it so far. I am a new mother. I have a 15 months old daughter. I was wondering, when do you start to apply Always Mean What You Say with a baby? Do you start when they are one or two or, perhaps, when they already understand certain things.
Also wanted to ask, my 15 months old daughter is very noisy during mass and can not stay still. How would you approach a situation like this? If I force her to stay still she will have a meltdown and will disrupt mass. She is a very intelligent and full of energy, and already talks and understands many things. I think she is ready for Always Mean What You Say but wanted to hear when do you start implementing it with your children.
We start once it seems like they can understand, for some kids that’s as early as ten or eleven months, for some kids it’s more like eighteen.
I’ve got a few posts that might be of interest. Babies and Discipline: When, Where, and How Much?
How to be the Boss of a One Year Old
So, Your Toddler is Terrible in Mass . . .
But the gist of all that is, yes, I think you can get your young toddler to behave to a reasonable level in Mass. our first goal is teaching them to whisper. Because I haven’t yet managed to get myself to not talk at all during Mass, but I do manage to not bellow, which goes over better.
Hi, Kendra- my kids and I really need reminders of this. Have you made this saying into a printable yet?
Which saying? I’ve got a bunch of sayings here, not necessarily from this post though. https://catholicallyear.com/?s=Rules
Always mean what you say. I have the others, and I’d love to have that to match.
Check your email. 🙂