Rethinking Consistency
Conventional parenting wisdom states that parents need to “be consistent” in order to maintain their authority.
Flexible parents — those who are willing to take in new information and adjust course on the fly — are given labels like wishy-washy, spineless, jellyfish, waffling, and that shame of shames: permissive!
But isn’t flexibility a virtuous trait? Isn’t flexibility needed to thrive in the complex, fast-changing world of the 21st century?
So if somebody suggests that you should be more “consistent,” tell them you are being consistent...
- I’m consistently flexible.
- I’m consistently following my heart.
- I’m consistently trusting my instincts.
- And my love is consistently unconditional.