Regardless of what they tell you, or what your misplaced guilt tries to dictate, kids really won't die from:
1. Hearing the word "No"
2. Being deprived of television, dvds, or a computer in their room
3. Not having their own cell phone
4. Having to dress modestly
5. Having a bedtime or curfew
6. Not being able to get their license the moment they're legally able to
7. Having to eat vegetables
8. Doing chores before they can go outside to play
9. Going outside to play
10. Not getting their ears, belly button, lip, eyebrows, etc. pierced
11. Not making the cheerleading squad/football team
12. Not winning beauty pageants
13. Waiting
14. Embarrassment
15. Having to ride the bus
16. Being seen with you at the mall
17. Eating dinner at the dining room table with the rest of the family
18. Having to spend a few hours with Grandpap at the nursing home
19. Saving their money
20. Drinking water instead of sugar-laden soft drinks
On the other hand, kids do die from not being strapped in their car seats, not wearing seat belts, riding bicycles without helmets, living in smoke-filled homes, drowning, fires in homes without smoke detectors, irresponsibility of caretakers, H1N1, physical abuse, neglect, poor nutrition, dog bites, AIDS, drug addiction at birth, fetal alcohol syndrome, contaminated food/water, ATV accidents, riding in the back of pick up trucks, cancer, violence and more.
It's your job to keep your kids and grandkids safe and healthy. Give them a good dose of discipline and reasonable boundaries (by your standards, not theirs) and don't make it your goal to be their best friend. Parenting involves unpopular decisions on your part...and that's okay. Raising responsible kids pays dividends beyond your wildest dreams. Someday, they'll thank you for it.
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