Parents with painful pasts are not doomed to repeat the mistakes of their parents. Making a deliberate choice from alternatives is the key to breaking from the past. There is power in having options. Look ahead to look back. Before they respond to their children's misbehavior, parents should imagine the future.
Every mistake is a lesson and an opportunity.
Discipline mistakes tell parents what does not work and what must be changed. Mistakes also mark a beginning point for renewal, a chance to break with the past. Excellence does not mean perfection. Never, ever, ever give up. Raising a child requires immense faith and patience.