As parents, we often find ourselves trying to provide guidance to our children in a difficult culture, filled with societal pressures and conflicting values. Regardless of the current culture and pressures, there is one historically effective parent tool that stands out and it’s the power of saying "no" and meaning it.
I was fortunate to grow up under the guidance of my mother, a dedicated middle school teacher, who enforced this principle with incredible strength and discipline. She recognized the importance of setting clear expectations for her three children, particularly during our adolescent years after going through her divorce and having to establish the rule of law on her own. She made it clear that family, education and help in the house were non-negotiables. Although I did not like it at the time, she established herself as the unquestioned authority and always meant long-term good with her decisions.
In recent…