<p>I just read through this whole thread. I think it’s great that the Thompson kids joined in for some clarification. If a couple raises 12 well-adjusted, educated kids, contributing citizens, then yes, I’m interested in what worked for them.</p>
<p>An authoritarian, rules-based household, in their case, was 100% successful. It probably would have worked well for my 3 healthy, athletic and reasonably smart kids. For several childhood friends, though, it backfired horribly. They rebelled, got into drugs, and are living angry, spiteful lives on the fringes of society. I would have to assume that the Thompsons had lessons in emotional resilience not explicit in the story.</p>
<p>I try not to make too many personal inferences about the Thompsons based on this one story. I recently read a news article about a man I knew well, a wealthy area businessman who passed away and the short article made him out to be a hardworking family man. He was mean, corrupt, philandering, one of the worst humans ever to walk this earth.</p>
<p>By the way, my sister worked full time, took a full load of classes and was a single mom with two young kids.</p>