4. Too Much Control. “We might say it’s our job to be “in control,” in the sense of creating a healthy and safe environment, offering guidance, and setting limits – but it’s not our job to be “controlling,” in the sense of demanding absolute obedience or relying on pressure or continuous regulation.” (Kohn, 62)

Doctrine & Covenants 121:37 “or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves…”

Controlling our children in a way that dictates all that they do is unhealthy and frankly not our duty as parents. It is our job to guide and assist children, and in some cases take control in a situation that needs it. We should not control every aspect of our children’s lives, because when the time comes for them to take care of  themselves and make their own decisions they will have no idea how to. We were given our agency for a reason and just because someone is your child does not give you the right to take that agency away from them. From this scripture we can see how important it is to allow children their agency, and if we do not we lose many blessings.