Judith Martin Quotes

My standard comment is, 'If you don't want your kids to be like Bart Simpson, don't act like Homer Simpson.'

Ignoring a child's disrespect is the surest guarantee that it will continue.

I would never scream at my kids, never raise my voice. But as they often tell me, they were so well behaved that screaming was not necessary.

I think we as fathers have to say good things about our children or else they will beat us.

People forget how the same children brought up with affection, effort, and love are the ones who later kick their parents.

I'm fortunate to have a baby girl who's super into everything that I say and do and really cooperative and just fun to be around. I couldn't imagine having a rebellious kid like me.

The word NO, carries a lot more meaning when spoken by a parent who also knows how to say yes.

Re raising kids: Love, without discipline, isn't.

It's very important that we instill some respect for the parents. In America especially, the kids are unruly, screaming at Mommy and Daddy, running the show.

Many people think that discipline is the essence of parenting. But that isn't parenting. Parenting is not telling your child what to do when he or she misbehaves. Parenting is providing the conditions in which a child can realize his or her full human potential.

If you're not yelling at your kids, then you're not spending enough time with them!

If my kids were to make a talking doll of me as a mother, one of my recorded phrases would be 'I will throw that in the trash.' 'If you don't put that down right now, I will throw that in the trash.' It's very funny to hear myself say certain things - like noticing which phrases become the most popular to use.

You can instill fear in your kids and get them to mind, but they won't function better in the world and your relationship will suffer greatly.

Fathers like to have children good-natured, well-behaved, and comfortable, but how to put them in that desirable condition is out of their philosophy.

A kid never listens to what his parents tell him to do. The parents actually act as an example of what their kids themselves do.

The whole concept of 'grounding' children is utterly stupid - they just go off and rebel and don't like you. When my kids eventually come along, I don't want them to not like me.

Parenting is one of the best management training programs there is.

Believe me, I don't let my kids run wild. They are all such good kids with good hearts. They make me so proud!

You chastise children when they are bad, as my parents did me. I'm not opposed to smacking. It is to be used occasionally.

I do not raise brats!

Yelling and screaming won't really get what I want from my kids.

Parents must get across the idea that "I love you always, but sometimes I do not love your behavior."

A parent who has never apologized to his children is a monster. If he's always apologizing, his children are monsters.

In spite of what youngsters think, parents do not get a sneaky thrill out of punishing their children.

As when my little son John offendeth: if then I should not whip him, but call him to the table unto me, and give him sugar and plums, thereby, I should make him worse, yea should quite spoil him.