Parents are part brainwashed against it and part afraid to discipline. There is so much in the media about child's self-esteem and hurting these delicate little blossoms of trouble that parents don't know which "expert" to follow.

There are no lines in the sand so to speak which is the biggest problem. What is wrong for one family is ok for another or is partly ok for another so no one knows exactly where the limits are. One of the reasons kids test us on every issue to be sure our rules really are the rules they need to follow at our house.