DEAR ABBY: Parents these days have an aggravating habit of telling their children what to do and then saying, "OK?" It goes like this: "Johnny, it's time to go to bed. OK?"
I don't remember getting a choice when I was a kid. When our parents told us to do something, we knew they weren't asking for our approval. By asking "OK?" they open up the subject for discussion when there should be none.
Today's parents seem more concerned with being their children's pals and not upsetting their kids than in saying what's what and then following through.
When I hear parents count to three while their kids decide whether or not they're going to do what they've been asked, I roll my eyes because usually the parents don't follow through and make their kids behave anyway. They just threaten them.
I'm sure glad I had parents who knew how to say the way it was going to be and then stuck to it. It sure made my life a lot easier. -- MARY LOU CHILDS, EUGENE, ORE.
DEAR MARY LOU: Many parents seem reluctant to enforce their own rules for fear of traumatizing their little ones. An excellent way to ensure obedience is to state your wishes in a tone that lets the child know this is not something open for discussion. Effective parents are not only loving, but also firm enough to provide limits.