I did as many logical consequences as I could when my kids were growing up. By and large I do think they learned to make good decisions. They are self-supporting adults in any event!
As for the kid who was allowed to sleep in in high school and didn’t graduate, my son’s best friend was hovered over in high school and flamed out in college when he was on his own.
I was the best mother. I did everything right, had all the right strategies for loving discipline, moral guidance, and transmission of my values. Then I had children.
I just want to point out that a kid who frequently forgets or misplaces things may not be doing it because he or she is lazy or irresponsible or taking advantage. That kid might have difficulty with that kind of thing and will need extra help in finding mechanisms to keep track of things and appointments. And can’t learn to be “responsible” by experiencing the natural consequences of his or her failures.
=)) @Massmomm
@thumper1 There’s definitely a big difference between can’t and won’t. I don’t think anyone expects someone away at work to drop everything over a homework assignment (or gym clothes or whatever) forgotten at home. 
In our situation… hubby works from home (when not out on a field assignment). He was fortunate to be able to bring things to school on the rare occasion that one of my lads or I forgot something. He also went on field trips with them, etc. It’s all mutual in our house. I recently brought him a flash drive he needed but couldn’t find before leaving to meet a client.
Our family is just that way. It would never occur to me NOT to bring something to school one of my lads forgot - at any age. None of us are perfect and their getting consequences over that is pretty minor IME. Their learning people/family support each other (when they can, not when they can’t) when we mess up is pretty major (to us). No regrets. My guys turned out just fine, able to adjust to college and adult life without problems. They’re actually the leaders among their peers and pretty loved ones at that.
If any of them had chronically forgotten something we’d have addressed that as necessary (teaching, guiding, and if necessary, consequences), but that just wasn’t an issue in our lives.
On a different note… I was one of those parents who detested signing permission slips for teens. I outright told my youngest lad to sign his own and just let me know what was going on (R rated movie, trip, whatever). That worked out well too.
This isn’t a revolutionary technique and honestly, most parents follow it on some level, especially in the early years. Sure, there will be that outlier that chide you for not running back and getting your child’s forgotten homework (that you recommended they put in their backpack the night before) but most parents in our circle would agree that the world won’t end if your 3rd grader misses a fun Friday because of an assignment.
Teens can be pretty self-destructive though and you have to WANT to be at school on time to react badly to missing the bus. Letting a caring kid be late is a great option. Letting a kid who doesn’t care sleep in, not so great. That kid you will have to be more creative about.