So this is the grumpy old men section??
Seriously, got to say that I completely agree with most of what has already been said. I was a bit wayward in my youth (yes I can still remember it before anyone says anything), but one thing I was told by my parents was. "You get yourself into trouble, you deal with it"!! This ultimately led to me being able to draw the line before I crossed it.
Being a father of 4 (one of each ) has meant dealing with a variety of child personalities. They have all had their moments when my patience has been tried to the limit, and I have sometimes been accused of being quick to come down on them. However, is that not better than not coming down on them at all?
Ultimately, my 2 daughters have grown into responsible, caring, respectful, hard working adults which I am massively proud of. Was it all down to me? Of course not, but I would like to think that some of the values I have in life, have and will be taken on board and passed on to their kids when they have a family.
My boys are younger and in many ways my parenting style is more relaxed with them, possibly because of experience and the fact that they don't live with me. But, the one thing I will not do, is spoil them with material items. Time and love by the bucket load, but I do not want them turning into spoilt brats as a result of a marriage breakdown, by getting everything they want. They will taught the values of hard work and respect for others the same as their sisters. Hopefully that formula will rub off on them also.
As for the driving thing Steve. Well, I'm in China right now and over here they cannot drive for shit. No road etiquette whatsoever, no adherence to the rules of the road. How the hell there are not more traffic accidents is beyond me, but the one thing I have yet to witness is road rage. They're all as bad as each other so nobody actually gets wound up about being cut up, lane hopping, driving down the road the wrong way etc......! I'm usually pretty relieved to have made it my destination every time I get in car here, and I'm not driving.
The amount of times my colleague and I have just sat in the car when we're here, simply saying, if that driver did that back home he'd be dead by now, because someone would've got out of their car and beaten living shit out of him, is untrue.