I’m not raising soldiers. I’m raising human beings. Thinking, feeling, learning humans who deserve to be heard—not just controlled.
Blind obedience might get fast results, but it often comes at the cost of trust. When a child obeys out of fear or habit, they’re not learning how to think for themselves. They’re learning how to survive someone else’s expectations. And that’s not the kind of relationship I want with my child.
Mutual respect is slower. It takes more patience, more conversation, more presence. But it builds something lasting. When I respect my child’s feelings and boundaries, I’m showing them that their voice matters. And when I expect the same in return, I’m giving them a chance to rise with dignity—not shrink into submission.
This doesn’t mean there are no boundaries. It means the boundaries are rooted in love, not power. It means I explain the “why” behind my decisions. It means I listen when my child pushes back, not as a threat—but as a sign they’re thinking for themselves.
In this home, we’re not perfect. We mess up, we get frustrated, we have to repair. But we keep coming back to this core belief: we’re not here to control each other. We’re here to love each other, respect each other, and grow together. That’s what mutual respect looks like—and it’s the foundation of everything.