I found this while looking through some old resources and thought it was worth sharing. I find myself sharing at least one of these "memos' per day with my clients, so thought it would be helpful to list them all at once.
To: Mom and Dad
From: Me
1. Don't spoil me. I know quite well that I ought not to have all that I ask for. I'm only testing you.
2. Don't be afraid to be firm with me. I prefer it. It lets me know where I stand.
3. Don't use force with me. It teaches me that power is all that counts. I will respond more readily to being led.
4. Don't be inconsistent. That confuses me and makes me try harder to get away with everything that I can.
5. Don't make promises; you may not be able to keep them. That will discourage my trust in you.
6. Don't fall for my provocations when I say and do things just to upset you. Then I'll tyr for more such "victories".
7. Don't be too upset when I say "I hate you". I don't mean it, but I want you to feel sorry for what you have done to me.
8. Don't make me feel smaller than I am. I will make up for it by behaving like a "big shot".
9. Don't do things for me that I can do for myself. It makes me feel liek a baby, and I may continue to put you in my service.
10. Don't let my "bad habits" get me a lot of your attention. It only encourages me to continue them.
11. Don't correct me in front of people. I'll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
12. Don't try to discuss my behavior in the host of conflict. For some reason my hearing is not very good at this time, and my cooperation is even worse. It is all right to take the action required, but let's not talk about it until later.
13. Don't try to preach to me. You'd be surprised how well I know what's right and wrong.
14. Don't make me feel that my mistakes are sins. I have to learn to make mistakes without feeling I am no good.
15. Don't nag. If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
Adapted from The King's Business Magazine published by the Bible Institute of California
