Our children don't owe us a single thing

I've said it before, I'll say it again... it is a fortunate quirk of nature that our children seek our love and approval.

They did not ask to be born, they did not ask us to make sacrifices, they did not ask us to stay up all night worrying about them... we chose to do all of that...

... so, they don't owe us a single thing, nope not even respect and compliance.

Accepting that we have no automatic authority or right over them is crucial for preserving the relationship, especially if they are one of the wonderous wild children.