A Loving, Strict Father

Guys, there’s good reason to be strict and consistent in our roles as dads.  If you bend to every breeze that blows by, you’re sending a harmful message to your children. 

You might as well say, "there’s no good reason to set down rules on behavior; I just do it to amuse myself and to make my kids' lives more miserable."  A child pleading, begging, and sobbing doesn’t change a thing when it comes to determining whether something is right or wrong. 

A loving, strict father can change when change is the best thing to do.  Changing your mind just to avoid confrontation is more damaging to the child in the long run.  A few tears won’t ruin the rest of a child’s life.  Weathering the tantrums that kids can throw will assure that more stable and mature behavior will emerge later.  Standing tall now is an investment in the future.

--Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of ten books, including the
best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong.
Learn more at SteveFarrar.com