Yes, I know the title sounds horrible, but there is no way around the fact that there are some “though shalt not’s” that parents must teach their children. Obviously, the majority of kids’ training should involve the positive. No argument there.
However, there has to be some counterbalance in the process somewhere. If it isn’t, there are naturally going to be consequences. The failure of parents to teach these negatives is one reason there seems to be so many behaviorally-challenged children nowadays.
Below, I have listed twelve negative things that parents should (but are mostly failing to) teach their kids:
1) The world is not your playground.
2) You were born with nothing and, technically, you will not own anything until you are old enough to begin working and earning the money to pay for it.
3) Unless it is an emergency, do not interrupt adults when they are speaking.
4) Do not run while indoors.
5) If it doesn’t belong to you and you haven’t gotten someone’s permission to use it, keep your hands off it.
6) Don’t expect me (us) to fight or finish battles that you have started.
7) Don’t complain about your food unless it has spoiled.
8) When in a public place or someone else’s home, do not beg. You are not a dog.
9) Do not make a spectacle of yourself in public. This means no screaming, yelling, or crying.
10) No one besides me (us) owes you anything and even the stuff I (we) owe you is very limited.
11) Cutting in line is an abomination.
12) Never do anything that would embarrass me (us).
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