> self control: running around and screaming; fighting; raiding the fridge Children pretty much by definition lack self-control. That is why they require paren

> self control: running around and screaming; fighting; raiding the fridge Children pretty much by definition lack self-control. That is why they require parents, to provide external control. > these are kids that are normally very well behaved. They behave well when you give them they want? What happens when they want to stay up all night and kick strangers in public? > if I ruled the house with an iron fist Children thrive in an environment of clear and consistently enforced rules. The rules themselves are pretty arbitrary. Consistency is the key. Let them rebel against the rules and let the pre-established consequences result. > But doing that results in other (far less desirable) rebellious behaviour. Who is in control of the household: the parents or the children?