Anonymous wrote:No eating on the couch & no wearing shoes inside, and that's it.

My kids are pretty easy and I haven't had to develop strict rules.

Anonymous wrote:I am puzzled by all the lack of rules.

We have tons. Off the top of my head:

—sit down while eating
—take small bites, chew with your mouth closed
—wash your hands after you use the potty
—clean up after yourself
—no hitting, pinching, biting siblings
—no name calling or other inappropriate language
—no running in the bathrooms and kitchen
—no standing up in the bathtub
—no playing on the stairs
—you have to change your underwear every day
—put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper
—say please and thank you, be respectful to adults
—hold hands crossing the street
—don’t run where a parents cannot see you when outside
—must wear seat belt while driving
—must wear helmet while scattering or biking
—no playing with balls in the house

And so many more. We also have positive ones (be kind, be flexible, etc). My kids are 2-8 years.

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Anonymous wrote:Never go to bed upset.

Follow the advice of your uncles.

Sometimes the hard decision is the right one.

Have Mercy!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Your kids must be young. Come back when they’re teens and won’t stop coveting the neighbor’s ox.

NP. What do you mean by this? Coveting other people’s material possessions (car, clothes, etc), or friends/girlfriend is a pretty standard part of being a teen.
These rules seem simple, but they are hard to live by.

I think the Ten Commandments are great. I think that many of us find we also need more specific rules like "Thou shall put thy own dishes in the dishwasher and not under thy bed to attract bugs", or "Thou shall not take thy chromebook into the bathroom with the camera on during Zoom school." These things may not be as serious as "Thou shall not kill" but they seem like reasonable additions. I'm pretty sure God doesn't mind.

I will say that I have one kid who, from birth seemed to know what "being kind" and "making safe choices" meant, and would have done great with a couple rules listed on the fridge, and another one who regularly needs to be told "I am adding this to the household rules. No climbing out the third floor window unless there is an actual fire. No trying out the family fire escape plan in case there is a fire does not count."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Your kids must be young. Come back when they’re teens and won’t stop coveting the neighbor’s ox.

NP. What do you mean by this? Coveting other people’s material possessions (car, clothes, etc), or friends/girlfriend is a pretty standard part of being a teen.
These rules seem simple, but they are hard to live by.

I meant it as a joke. Commandments are often worded pretty antiquated, and little children might not understand them.

TLDR: *whoosh*

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Your kids must be young. Come back when they’re teens and won’t stop coveting the neighbor’s ox.

NP. What do you mean by this? Coveting other people’s material possessions (car, clothes, etc), or friends/girlfriend is a pretty standard part of being a teen.
These rules seem simple, but they are hard to live by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Your kids must be young. Come back when they’re teens and won’t stop coveting the neighbor’s ox.

NP. What do you mean by this? Coveting other people’s material possessions (car, clothes, etc), or friends/girlfriend is a pretty standard part of being a teen.
These rules seem simple, but they are hard to live by.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Ten Commandments have worked pretty well for us.

Your kids must be young. Come back when they’re teens and won’t stop coveting the neighbor’s ox.