[scop]

Not sure why this is being downvoted.

A child will eventually collide with reality. Hard. You have one choice:

- have him collide with reality under the watchful eyes of somebody who loves them

- have him collide with reality under the authority of somebody who could care less about him (police, landlord, utilities, etc)

[brewtide]

This is also my stance on parenting. Mine are 9 & 11, but I always try to view the place they are at now vs the 'hello reality' future (18-20ish?) and raise the expectations on what they can do along the lines of the imaginary slope connecting now until then.

And I explain it to them. It's coming, it's real, you'll have to do so many things -- but that if these things are learned at a consistent steady pace, I imagine a bit less earth shattering than the notion of do whatever you want, until life beats you up.

Parenting, all about preparing them for their future in all the ways, or at least giving it your best shot. Communication here, like in everything, is key.