I will teach my child how to have fun and how to laugh. Help children develop clear goals for themselves, both short term and long term. Authority Is Essential Being firm with your child is NOT the same as being mean. Your child will respect you more if you believe you are supposed to be the authority in the relationship. The 60s generation lost the concept that authority is a good thing.
Authority is essential to maintaining order and structure in a family.
The boundaries are known and the child does not have to continually test them, leaving energy for more productive activities. Mean what you say. Don't allow guilt to cause you to back down on what you know is right. Many parents underestimate their influence over a child. With a good relationship, the child will come to you when they need to.