i thought scott's story about his kids was cute and i have immense sympathy for him figuring things out as a first time parent with sharp kids, and specifically kids who let me remind you are two year olds

there are american subcultures were there's this sort of disciplinarian expectation and parents are judged if their kids don't fall in line and thats one way to live and often contextually appropriate but there are other modes of parenting suited to other context and children

my personal outlook is yeah its important for kids to learn how to listen and obey but it's also important for them to be happy (now and in the future) and to be able to engage with adults in modes other than "authority/dependent"

how to hit this balance and what specific methods work vary by context, by child, and frankly by parent. i'm just not made to be a martinet inevitably parents have to feel this out and find a modus vivendi with their kids. i saw scott's post as being about this process