I keep hearing "timeout" in this thread. Such a layperson term. Timeout is not at all what I am referring to. A parent (if done properly) controls every single thing in their child's life. They most often don't realize it though. Yes, you keep taking shit away until they are left with nothing but a bed....and you don't elicit reaction and you wait them out for as long as it takes. They learn real quickly who is in charge. The amazing part is, this can be done easily and effectively with out any violence, threat of violence or yelling from the parent. What a novel concept!
Problem is most people don't believe this, want to believe it, or are too lazy or archaic minded to follow through. That is the real problem....a parent problem.
Parents, by and large, have expectations of their children that are unrealistic. What???? You expected your kid to come to dinner and put away the video game the first time you yelled dinner was ready? Well, that is a YOU problem; however, you as a parent can certainly make sure the kid comes to the dinner table, first time, every time if you lock that Xbox in a safe for a full week without even a conversation everytime the child doesn't come to dinner when called. Parents are lazy and undisciplined these days; not kids. Kids are doing the same thing they have always done, pushing the boundaries that parents are supposed to create for them. The problem is most parents these days don't teach the boundaries....at least not in the right way.