Sorry I was so glib.

Most children respond very well to diversion.

I cringe when I hear parents threaten their kids. The kid soon learns that the parents never follow through and the behaviour continues.

Everyone brings to parenting their own set of rules. Those rules change depending on the child but when the chips are down, isn't it amazing to watch yourself reverting to the same method your parents used? My mother used to say cruel things to me. The day I said something cruel to my daughter, I cried for hours. Its not easy to be a parent.