When our children were young, I took them to a pet store to redeem a coupon for a free goldfish. Two hours later we emerged with a puppy, purchased with the children's own money. That night we put the puppy in the laundry room to sleep. In the morning the room was a mess. The children were expected to clean up, but they felt it was too much. "We can't!" they sobbed.
That night we held a family home evening on the subject of consequences. "When you bought the dog," their father said, "you didn't think about the consequences. Now the dog is part of our family, and you must take responsibility for her." We discussed how consequences always follow any choice we make, and we encouraged them to always make righteous choices.
The dog recently died after 14 years as part of our family, but the life lessons she helped teach us will always remain.
Jill Grant, Victoria, Australia