The abilities to work joyfully and live positively should constitute success in the eyes of parents for their children. Forced obedience serves a child no practical purpose, except flattering an adult ego or providing convenience, again, for an adult. The child's compliance with certain aspects of family life will occur naturally and without snarling temper tantrums if the child is first not a piece of property, second not an indentured servant, and third respected for his own thoughts and opinions. Humans enjoy investigating many interests throughout their lives. To demand of a child that they master or perfect what currently interests them is to teach the child apathy, frustration and contempt.
Children flit from one subject to another, or even to no specific subject.
Their attention spans are limited to the momentary experience of wonder, the puerile assessment of the unknown, and the possible inquiry for more information. This could take less than a minute with a young child, and may last for years with a much older child. Childhood is not adulthood. Childhood is a time of play and no child of restricting parents ever gets enough play. If this stage is repressed, flightiness may continue into adulthood.