It may be the fault of the child; it is not always the parents’ fault, but parents must be consistent, uniform. Fathers must not exasperate children, embitter them, bring about their humiliation. Have an atmosphere of reasonableness in the home not one of arbitrary commands that has more to do with the oversensitive exercise of parental will. Never be too severe. Not be inconsistent. Do not punish the same misdemeanour with very different discipline from one day to the next. Young people are not fools, and they are particularly sensitive to injustice.
Don’t persistently criticise a child. Maybe they do persist in doing the same wrong thing but they cannot take constant criticism. You would not take it from your employer. Let some things pass. We are not producing angels. Don’t be indifferent to their concerns, their needs, their interests. And do not let father and mother attack one another, which is disturbing to the child. Get rid of hypocrisy and selfishness. Isn’t rearing children complex! Yes. So why do we give these things so little time and consideration?