The Unsupervised Stop Sign

When you tell little ones, "Stop taking all the toys," then you don't watch to see if they obey~~ when you instruct your school-age girls and boys, "Stop now. Do chores and homework before you play more games and talk to your friends," but you never check to see what has actually transpired~~ when you give kids a curfew but you aren't ever aware of what time they get in, proving they aren't required to stop coming in late~~when they won't stop being mean and rude, and you say, "You're grounded," then the next day let them go, do, and spend as they please, proving a stinking attitude is no deterrent to self-rule, you're under their thumb~~this, they KNOW.