Thousands of others are driven away by the unreasonable and over-reactive criticism of parents who find it easier to provide harsh, critical outbursts than to be a real parent. Seeing things from the child's point of view is difficult, but necessary for real understanding. The concerned parent does not ignore hair length or dress codes, but he seeks principles rather than pointing only to customs. The child should be given reasons, not simply flat commands. Success in forming a friendship with a child comes in direct proportion to our willingness to get on our knees and talk with the child at eye level.
Patience is a vital factor in understanding, also.
There is a difficult balance between not expecting children to become adults too soon and not trying to keep them babies too long. We show impatience when we measure them by our own years and scold them because they have not reached a t expectations. Even when we have been impatient, our children respond with a goodnight hug as if nothing unpleasant has happened. And gradually we learn patience with their faults as they must with ours. In closing this discussion may we emphasize again that the purpose of this presentation is not to encourage a lack of firm, loving discipline, but rather is to encourage each of us to remember that children are people too, and as such have rights and feelings which are as real as our own.