Most parents are looking for that one thing that will make parenting easier, less stressful, and that joyous experience we all thought it could be. The best advice you could follow is consistent consistency.

Each family will have different rules and boundaries. You need to create the rules and guidelines that fit your home and parenting style. A few important things to keep in mind when creating rules:

• all the children have the same rules. There are rules that you age out of and into but as you age all of the children get the same rules.
• The rules teach respect
• The rules are the rules all the time.

Even if you have to put the rules on the wall for everyone to remember the most important thing is that you keep the rules all the time. When you say no it really means it and don’t back down. Children are like sharks and can smell fear in the water. If they think you will give in they will try. If you say no, they scream, and you changed your answer to a yes they will remember. They will test you and they know they can win. They will play dirty, embarrass you in the store, and scream in your face until they get what they want if they think you will give in. They will cry, guilt and even hold their breath if they have to in order to get the response they want.  Kids are amazingly smart and at a very young age will find just that perfect retaliation to get everything they want. If you gave in last time and the time before that they will try harder if need be.

Take a breath and remind yourself every time you give in they will go one step farther next time to ensure they win. If you are consistent all the time they will know no means no, bedtime is bedtime, and no toys in the grocery store.

Be consistent be consistent be consistent!

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