Kids love to think they can put one over on their parents and have the upper hand. Let's face it most kids think you were put on this planet as an adult and you were never a teenager, you dont have any idea what they are going through and they have no idea the cons they are trying to pull on you have already been tried by you when you were their age so you know exactly what they are attempting to do and are two steps ahead of them.

The sad thing is that your kids wont realise what they are putting you through until they are your age and have their own kids then sit back and wait for the apology from them because you wont get one until then. They may apologise for isolated behaviour but half the time kids dont mean it they just want you to give in and let them off their grounding but dont do it.

The best way to get your kids to accept your boundaries and rules is to first find out what your kids most treasured activities and possessions are and let them know quite firmly that if they dont follow the rules some items or activities will be omitted from your kids weekly routine and stand firm for example you may have noticed that you child after being grounded for a week is very loving and doing everything you have asked them to do and you are feeling like a big mean ogre for keeping the grounding going. Now you need to go to a childs mind set and think if I give in this time are they going to learn the lesson I wanted them to learn and the answer is no they will know how to get their punishment shortened but not that you mean what you say.

Remember the old saying you have to be cruel to be kind its true when it comes to kids and believe me kids will make you feel mean when you enforce your boundaries but will get over it Plus it will give them tools on how to raise their kids without having to use the wooden spoon like we were taught as kids. Taking away a kids ipod hurts more than a smack. Gee they may even be forced to have a conversation with you.