And if for some reason my wife wants the air conditioning turned down low because she’s feeling warm, I tell my kids to just put on warmer clothing
I went to great lengths to make sure that my kids were disciplined and understood the rules of the house. I hated growing up around peers who were given no structure by their parents. They were often some of the most poorly behaved students at school. You could see where the parents had gone wrong with their upbringing. I had a few friends that I would visit from time to time at their homes. They would order their parents around as if their parents were their servants. And then the parents would respond in turn. It was one of the strangest things for me to observe at the time because my parents were always strict by comparison. I remember thinking back then how different I would handle things if I was given the chance to have my own kids. My wife and I have worked really hard to discipline our children fairly. I’m glad I don’t have to buy a lock box for the central HVAC thermostat because our kids already know that they’re not supposed to touch it without our explicit permission. They are told that if they are really uncomfortable they can come and ask us if we’re willing to adjust it for them. Otherwise they are welcome to use fans in their rooms if they’re feeling too warm. And if for some reason my wife wants the air conditioning turned down low because she’s feeling warm, I tell my kids to just put on warmer clothing. They’re not going to rule the house, but I’m not going to treat them like servants either. Children thrive when given fair and modest discipline.