There are a lot of different parenting styles out there, and pros and cons to each.

But in this story, one parent’s style is just… not doing it?

Let’s see what all this fuss is about…

AITA for wanting to give my 5 year old consequences

So, I am totally willing to accept AITA here.

My son is actually 4, almost 5.

My wife is a big believer in no punishment, natural consequences, etc.

Wonder how this is gonna work out…

Recently (especially at night, he doesn’t nap so he’s tired in the evening), he tends to be a real jerk.

I know it sounds harsh, but there’s just no other way to put it.

He gets mad over nothing, throws stuff at us, screams over anything etc.

So far, not so good. But does it escalate?

Note, that when it comes to my son I do most of the playing and working with him, so maybe I’m a bit more burnt out with his constant anger.

We have a 6 month old daughter, and my wife does most of the work with her, so neither child is ignored by either of us.

So yesterday he was kicking up a massive fuss over bed time.

What’s this kid’s beef with bedtime?

He started throwing toys at me, screaming at us, crying, etc. He finally said, “Daddy, I don’t love you anymore, I only love mommy.”

I know he’s 4.5 but it hurt a bit regardless.

So I said, “Okay, then I don’t want to be here.”

Ouch. Mom and Dad maybe need to have a talk?

I feel like he should have some consequence for it.

He doesn’t face consequences for anything at this point.

She’s into gentle parenting.

We usually play a bit before school in the morning, but this morning I told him I don’t want to play with him because he was mean to me and my wife flipped out.

I think he’s at the age where he should start feeling some consequences for his actions, my wife keeps saying he’ll grow to learn that certain things are bad.

Sounds like everybody is being a baby here?

I don’t think he’ll learn if he’s not guided.

For example, she never wanted him to feel like he has to share, so now he doesn’t share at all.

Anyway, I’m being told IATA for not immediately letting this stuff go. Thoughts?

Guidance and discipline are personal parenting choices, but being mean isn’t cool.

What do the comments think?

This person has an impassioned plea.

Someone else says, maybe mom and dad should go back to school?

Someone else says, everyone has to take no for an answer sometimes.

One user is like, communication is key.

This poster is like, teach your children well… before they’re big and strong!

Sometimes parents are the biggest babies.

Dad not wanting to play with him the next day WAS the natural consequence.

If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.