Proverbs says that a wise child brings joy to his parents, but a foolish child brings grief. So how do you make them wise?
It's helpful to offer consistent loving boundaries with predictable consequences throughout the life of the child. Why wouldn’t a parent do this? One reason that causes problems is when single parents and parents in stepfamilies become paralyzed by guilt or sympathy. I get it. You feel so bad for all your child has suffered that you just can’t follow through with discipline. But that doesn’t work. It adds foolishness in their heart and grief to your life. Don’t be paralyzed. Follow through.