Proud "Mean Mommy"

I am sick and tired of parents who excuse their children's rudeness, destructiveness or poor manners by saying that they are "just active" or "too young" to be disciplined. How hard is it to get a kid to understand "No!" or "Stop hitting!" or "Pick up your toys!"? And is it so unusual to expect kids to address adults as Mr. or Mrs.?

If parents are too lazy to teach their kids appropriate behavior when they're young, it only leads to problems later. We all know the warning signs: A child asking to do something over and over and over when she was already told no. A child repeatedly hitting someone or something, even after she was told to stop. A child who can't be taken to a shopping center or a restaurant for fear of a tantrum. A child so difficult to be around that no one is willing to baby-sit her.

I know that there are legitimate medical and social development issues that might excuse some kids who do these kinds of things. But I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the kids whose only behavioral issues are the ones caused by lack of discipline. And that is their parents' fault. It isn't like these parents don't know how their children behave—they just don't think it's a big deal! I remember one time when my daughter was a toddler and another child shoved her. The response from the kid's mother? "Your daughter should toughen up and not cry so much." Huh? Meanwhile the shover remained unpunished.

Some parents seem so focused on grabbing money and power and material things that they forget what children really need is attention, love and structure. I think some parents are so afraid that their child won't like them that they don't discipline at all. Well guess what? Sometimes you have to be the bad guy. I love hanging out with my daughters, but they know I am the boss. Manners, responsibility and good behavior are the norm in—and out—of my home.