Say "please" and "thank you": Why parents should show good Christian manners to their children

 Many parents feel the need to boss their children around. Most parents in this country defend their "rights" to order children around like they are slaves, and then back up those orders with punishment. This is a form of child abuse in and of itself, when perceived by the child. Why? You want something from your child. We can't all get what we want in life, so don't throw a temper tantrum, parents.

The Tenth Commandment opposes coveting, and prohibits, in the Christian realm, entitlement as a general attitude, or an attitude towards children, and is denoted by the Greek root word πλεονέκτης (Latin: pleonektés) and refers not only to wanting things from children, but wanting to the point of seeking to impose said want on a child, leading to theft/abuse, with the Greek root word for "abuse" in the New Testament being κλεπτω (Latin: kleptó) and cross-references the Eighth Commandment, and refers to legal damages, with legal damages being evidence in terms of harm inflicted on persons, property, or effects.

This is basically an entitled attitude of "I am the parent, and I deserve respect from my child" leading to demanding, controlling, or spousifying behavior. It is wanting things from a child enough to try and impose said want on them. Parents have the right to ask a child to do anything that doesn't harm them, but if they might throw a temper tantrum themselves, enough to impose on the child or even complain, they are entitled in that request, and should either stifle entitlement or not ask at all. Usually, the correct response is to not ask at all.

Asking can mean asking them to turn down the radio in their room. Are you willing to raise your voice and get into a fit of anger? If not, do not ask. Deal with it, and center yourself by the impact of the horrific, terrorizing music that your child simply enjoys. The horrors of it all (sarcasm indeed intended)! Asking them not to run into the street, or even urging them with helpful advice? That is not an entitled request of a child, as children need to know that a street is unsafe. The thing is, however, that very young children cannot internalize that danger because of lack of brain development, thus cannot be left unsupervised where there is any car traffic.

I myself talk to children just like any other person, meaning I don't raise the tone of my voice, and don't talk down to them in any way. I myself have issues as a symbolic parent to them that render me on their level. I see them as potential friends. Saying "no" would like an telling an ordinary adult "Sorry, I can't lend you $500, because I'm broke and need that money to pay the rent". It is setting limits on those terms.

Let the parents who identify themselves by defending their "rights" to control, punish, or otherwise abuse children, languish in the lake of fire and brimstone, suffering the second death! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!