Sometimes I think the two terms, strict and mean, get confused.  To me, strict is an important thing for little ones – it comes from a place of love, not malice.  It teaches little ones and ABies what is acceptable behavior and what is not; what is safe and what can harm them.  Being a strict AB Mommy says I care and love you enough to want the very best for you – that I care enough to want to make sure that you know how to make the right choices, and how to navigate life successfully in the future, when I am not there to guide them.  Being strict means giving them the well needed rules they need to function properly.  Whether they want to admit it or not, Abies and sissies alike not only need those boundaries put in place, but also need to know that crossing those boundaries have very real consequences. And of course that means that punishments are always implemented – consistency is the key here.  Otherwise, they may come to think that the rules are something that can be circumnavigated, which then leads them to think that the rules are for everyone else BUT them; that these well thought out rules don’t really mean anything – I simply can’t have that.  This is the reason why I am ever vigilant with all my little ones, Abies and Sissies.   So if this vigilance is ever construed as “mean”, then let me assure you, my strictness is done only with your very best interests at heart – and NOT done as a way to appease a mean, vindictive, sadistic side of me that extracts extreme pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction in seeing my little ones writhe in pain and suffering… nooo…nooo… not at all, hehehehehe.     Strict AB Mommy Lexus 1.888.430.2010