In my blog entitled ‘Top 20 Tips for the Better Management of Your Teens‘, Tip #5 is ‘Stick to you Guns. Employ your Alphaness.’ Alphaness is that part of you that understands that you are not your child’s friend. A lot of times we understand the expression ‘alpha male’ to mean the one that’s in charge, the one that has the most testosterone.

Parents need to remember their alphaness when they are dealing with children because children come into this world complete with a lot of power and energy. If you are not careful, you may find yourself being bullied by them. Their cuteness can pull the wool over your eyes.

You must always, as a last resort, be willing to give them that energy that says “Do you know who you’re talking to?”, “I don’t think you have a clear idea of who you’re talking to.”, “This is not a wise move you’re making. There will be consequences. Are you ready to have the consequences?” This is ‘do not mess with me’ energy, your ‘alphaness’. If they want to buck that, then you need to be able to come with something that they will never forget! I’m going to leave what that is up to you.

Suffice it to say, everything we do teaches our children. We show them how to ‘Be’ all of the time. We demonstrate strength, kindness, compassion, cowardice, courage, morals, weakness, love, alphaness… ALL of it so that they know how to behave in the world.

What would you model for your children to handle child discipline?