Okay, I guess I will be opening myself to a barrage of abuse, but I do sit through these programmes sometimes with gritted teeth. Along comes Jo Frost and her amazing umberella like Mary Poppins, and she walks straight into a Bosnia warzone where kids rule and hapless parents sit there and do what the kids tell them! I have no doubt that some kids can be a real handful and I did have my fair share of problems with my ex-partners son who drove me to despair whilst he was about 3 up to about 10. The things that wind me up are when parents dont seem to work together. They seem to disagree about some fundamental principles, and often end up arguing with each other before they dare argue with the kids. And even then, when the kids are out of control, I do wonder why the hell they seem to have a bedroom full of the latest toys, gadgets and tvs and playstations, etc.
Just remember Mums and Dads, married and divorced, seperated or single, that when all is said and done, your kids will grow up and naff off one day, and so if you share parenting of a child, stepchild or whatever, then work together, back each other up, and be firm. Giving in is always the easy answer, but all you are really doing is making a rod for your own back, and you aren't helping them to develop into a better person. And stop spoiling them so much. Let your no mean NO and your yes mean yes. Aged 43 and managed to stay off valium