<p><a href="Post%20#17">quote="Mommy_Dearest"</a>Justice: Its too bad, you need to stick to a budget
Mercy: OK, its your birthday, we'll be lenient this one time.
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You'd think that if you are always being kind and understanding, your kids would appreciate you more -- but it doesn't work that way, unfortunately. They will appreciate you more if your rules are firm and consistant -- and if "mercy" is reserved for truly unanticipated, emergency circumstances. </p>
<p>This is also true with just about everyone else you deal with in life. I keep trying to tell this to friends I know in business who liberally extend credit and then complain when they don't get paid. </p>
<p>There is a psychological explanation for this, but I don't know what it is. I'm not advocating being harsh or unfeeling. I am a very leniant parent and I never have punished my kids ... but I have my limits, and "no" means "no". "Maybe" means "yes, but I expect you to do something significant for me first."</p>