…Permanent. Yep. You read that right.  Practice make permanent.

So, we all want our kids to succeed. We want them to be well rounded, well liked, and well mannered.  We want them to have more opportunities than we did. And deep down, we want to live vicariously through their successes. We have to listen to them, teach them, support them, push them, and guide them. But how much is too much? How little is too little?

Well, probably not surprisingly, it just depends.  It depends on the child, the situation, the emotions, and more.  For some, it’s never enough.  For others, it’s always too much.  We have to find balance, make the tough decisions, and love them the best way we can.

There are arguments that we (young or old), in order to achieve great success, should focus on one thing and one thing only.  Then there are those that say variety is better and leads to a well rounded and happy life.  So, how do we decide which direction to point our children in on any given day?

Let’s start with some kid basics first:

• Kids like to eat junk food.
• They like to stay up late.
• They like to play games.
• They get upset if they don’t get their way.
• They like to laugh.
• They will always test boundaries.
• They want the attention of their parents.

Now, let’s look at some statements that can help shape individual parenting guidelines:

• There is a huge difference between quitting something and not continuing something.
• There is a huge difference between giving children a choice and letting them make decisions that should be an “adult” decision.
• Children understand reasonable expectations and respect consistency.
• The popular decision isn’t always the right decision.

Here is a great example of what many might consider a parenting success story:

• Kerri Walsh-Jennings, Beach Volleyball player and Olympic Gold Medalist – has a great video clip

Here are some not-so-great examples of parenting success:

• Lindsey Lohan
• The Jackson 5

In the end, you have to have a good sense of who your child is, not who they think you want them to be, and adjust your style for what works for you.  Keep your goals realistic and attainable and keep your style consistent and fair.

Decisions can be as simple as keeping them “happy, healthy, and safe!”  More on that later.