I have spent years hearing all the right ways to parent. Gayle Peterson Gayle Peterson, MSSW, PhD is a family therapist specializing in prenatal and family development. Guilt and fear may keep parents from following through on their own house rules, and failure to give consequences increases disrespectful behavior. It's time to take responsibility for putting an end to this negative cycle of interaction. It appears that you are not following through on consequences because you fear your son's anger.
Relationships are a two-way street.
You are not in control of whether he maintains a relationship with you. If follow-through occurs, he will experience the results, pure and simple. The fact that your son never adheres to your rules suggests that this has been a long term pattern. If so, your willingness to stop short of delivering consequences continues this cycle. A parent may feel guilt over something their children experienced and over compensate by reneging on consequences.