Page 67 - The Intentional Parent

I intend to assert my position as family leader by not permitting my child’s protests about consequences to cause escalating conflicts between me and my child.
I will allow my child to experience the natural consequences of behavior when it does not jeopardize my child’s health/safety.
I will impose consequences in a way that is educational but not overly punitive. I will not encourage rebellion. I will encourage compliance.
I intend to take into account my child’s temperament when assessing my competence as a family leader.
I understand that learning about and acting to avoid negative consequences of behavior can be a very challenging task that can take a lifetime even for adults to learn. I have done most of my job by merely pointing out the connections between behavior and outcome, and often do not have to do much more.
Turning Intentions Into Actions:
This book and program takes a “broad stroke” approach to teaching you the essentials of leadership parenting. For one thing, it is impossible to “micro manage” someone else’s family without knowing a lot more than I can assume in this book. Second, I try to discourage a “cookbook” philosophy with parenting issues. I would prefer to encourage “philosophy” over “methodology,” but by the same token I will always tell parents that learning a reliable set of concepts will get you most of the way through many difficult parenting experiences.
The Intentional Parent by Peter J. Favaro, Ph.D. 67