It is important to hold the line when disciplining the child, but equally important that one not seem to take the child’s anger or despair lightly. Which is to say when the child has a high-decibel flailing flop-fest after failing to meet the clearly-stated standards for having a special cookie after lunch, you absolutely must not crack a smile even if the child is hollering, “But I want an EAR-E-O! I want an EAR-E-O!”
She is fast asleep now.