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Parents are not policemen, and our job is not primarily to keep law and order, but to love and teach love.

Try to listen to children at all times, and especially when they misbehave.

The only way to teach self-respect and respect for others is to respect the world of the child, listen to him and notice any experiences, difficulties or problems that he considers important.

Children thrive when parents are involved in the events of their lives, but do not control the decisions of growing children.

The goal of the Christian life is not to resist temptation, but to acquire virtue. We are called to seek the kingdom of God, not just avoid hell. This subtle shift in focus allows our home to be a place where we learn to love rather than one where we just try not to hurt. Remember that the gospel is called "Glad Tidings" and not "List of Things We Shouldn't Do"

Telling children what to do is necessary from time to time, but it is not the most effective way to work towards long-term goals. Telling children what to do can sometimes be dangerous because it doesn't necessarily encourage them to think for themselves. And when abused, it can communicate to children that they are not capable of thinking for themselves. Plus, they probably know what to do because we've told them hundreds of times. They just don't want to or don't think about it. Beware of overusing this tool.

If we only make time for children when they are misbehaving, we are creating a system where there is a subtle reward for misbehavior through connection.

Vague commands, instructions, and restrictions applied inconsistently or based on our mood do not help children in their learning.

The key to setting the right boundaries is to be clear, consistent, firm, and to the point.

Children feel unloved, or that our love is conditional, not when we restrict their behavior, but when we overreact by setting limits.

Beware: When parents learn the skills and techniques of parenting, they can easily lose sight of the heart of parenting - loving their children as individuals.

Parents should use the consequences, but it can't be the first or only thing we do when kids misbehave.

Boys grow up to be strong men by mastering their feelings rather than ignoring them. If you want to raise a strong man, don't teach him to reject or ignore his feelings, because he will grow up unable to navigate his inner world. Try to teach your son to express feelings and manage the whole set of emotions. Then, as an adult, he will not be cut off from his emotions and will not obey them.

Even the act of considering what a child might feel instead of reacting is an act of respect that shows deep respect for the child's personality.