good parents

Todd and I stayed up late watching a bunch of episodes of the tv show "World's Strictest Parents." In the show, 2 wild teenagers go to a strict parent's house for a week. And in every single episode, the teenagers make huge improvements and it's really amazing. So, Todd and I decided to write down what we saw that was the same in all the strict families:

1. had the kids do hard work as part of the daily routine
2. the parents spent one on one personal positive time with each child
3. the parents had high expectations with clear rules and boundaries, and consequences for every broken rule
4. the parents stay calm; instead of yelling they use consequences instead. The consequences were usually a chore of hard work instead of going to their room or something
5. they find what the kid is interested in and use that to bond with them and strengthen their relationship
6. really open communication
7. lots of praise when they are doing anything right
8. lots and lots of family together time- work and play together
9. the parents in almost every show had the kids do service work
10. the parents don't let them run away; they make them face their problems (cool down period ok, though)
11. dad to boy and mom to girl relationship very important
12. the parents always expressed and showed love; without this the rules come across as domineering, but if the kids know they are loved, they see it as being cared for
13. be patient and consistent