[Joe Driscoll]

They sacrifice personal time, friendships and their own interests - sometimes even their sex lives.

I'm willing to sacrifice the former and my wife is willing to sacrifice the latter so I guess we must be bad parents too. We both try to use the parental quotes we grew up with. We use the "grown-up zone" a few minutes after I get home from work but we have never used the"'Don't bother me unless you're bleeding'. My personal favorites are "If I have to stop this car..." and "I don't care which one started it, if I punish the both of you I am sure to get the guilty party".

Two years ago when my daughter was five, my wife said "When you move out to go to college..." and my daughter burst into tears. After we consoled her we had a good laugh about it.

[NativeNewYorker]

When my son is very agitated for no good reason, I ask him,"Is your weiner on fire?"

His laugh breaks the tension, teaches him to keep things in perspective, and teaches him to wait.

[Snowy]

Two years ago when my daughter was five, my wife said "When you move out to go to college..." and my daughter burst into tears. After we consoled her we had a good laugh about it.

My 11 year old says to me, "Mom, please stop bugging me!". I tell him, "hun, it's my job. If I didn't bug you, then maybe you wouldn't move out of this house after college!" I then use his uncle as an example, and he can see my point. :)

[Gophack]

My 9 year old was like that. She didn't want to go to college until I told here there were two good colleges within driving distance of our house. Now, she's fine with it, and she's "thinking" about maybe going away to college. The "thinking" about it occurred after our son was born and she now has to share a room with her 6 year old sister ... :-)