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My firm belief before my son was born and it remains so today is that when children are young you should be as strict as possible (within reason) with them. They need to learn the rules and understand how things work.
This lays the ground work for when they are older. If done correctly, there need only be ground rules. An older teenager should have such an ingrained understanding of what is right and wrong that there should be no need to be strict. They will have self-discipline. They will do what is expected and question what is unreasonable.
So far it is working well with my son. He generally does what is expected of him and has a very healthy skepticism of authority.
As with everything... the key is in the balance of respect for authority without being a sheep.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
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