What's Your Discipline Style?

1. It's 12:45 and you're watching the end of Saturday Night Live. You hear the door open and in strolls your son. He was supposed to be home at midnight. You:

• Give him a tongue-lashing and ground him for the following weekend.
• Continue watching TV. Kids will be late and at least he's all right.
• Explain that if he must be late, please call.

2. As you sit by the window reading, you notice a car pull up. Out stumbles your daughter. As she fumbles with the key to get in the door, you prepare your speech on drinking. You:

• Say "I am glad you did not drive, but underage drinking is not acceptable. If it happens again, the punishment will be severe."
• Say "Glad you made it home," figuring her hangover will be punishment enough.
• Yell at her until she passes out.

3. Ah, supper time. You and your family are enjoying a lovely veggie stirfry. You son however, has a milk moustache and chews with his mouth open. You:

• Can't bear even looking at this Neanderthal, so you send him out of the room.
• Explain that he needs to work on his manners or you can't take him out for those family dinners.
• Don't think manners mean that much. If he wants to look that way when he eats, that's his problem.

4. When you get home, you see your car is missing. As you are about to call the police, your daughter, who just got her license, pulls up with her friend. You:

• Flip out completely, telling her she will never hang out with that friend again.
• Explain that she needs permission to drive the family car.
• Ask her if the tank is full, because you just put gas in it yesterday.

5. Your 16-year-old daughter has a big date tonight. As she descends the stairs, you see she resembles a scantily-clad pop star more than your little girl. You:

• Say, "There is no way you're leaving the house looking like that!"
• Tell her you wish she'd wear clothes that were a little less revealing.
• Didn't even know she had a date.

1. It's 12:45 and you're watching the end of Saturday Night Live. You hear the door open and in strolls your son. He was supposed to be home at midnight. You:
Explain that if he must be late, please call.

2. As you sit by the window reading, you notice a car pull up. Out stumbles your daughter. As she fumbles with the key to get in the door, you prepare your speech on drinking. You:
Yell at her until she passes out.

3. Ah, supper time. You and your family are enjoying a lovely veggie stirfry. You son however, has a milk moustache and chews with his mouth open. You:
Don't think manners mean that much. If he wants to look that way when he eats, that's his problem.

4. When you get home, you see your car is missing. As you are about to call the police, your daughter, who just got her license, pulls up with her friend. You:
Ask her if the tank is full, because you just put gas in it yesterday.

5. Your 16-year-old daughter has a big date tonight. As she descends the stairs, you see she resembles a scantily-clad pop star more than your little girl. You:
Didn't even know she had a date.

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You have a very relaxed discipline style. Chances are your kids are getting away with murder.

You don't flip out when your kids screw up, but you won't tolerate them making the same mistake twice.

It's your way or the highway. If your kids can't follow the rules, they'll pay for it. They may be living in fear or, as a defense mechanism, developing an oppositional, I-don't-care attitude.