It’s important for every parent to know the fundamentals of discipline.  One of the fundamentals is unified discipline. You need to agree on how you will discipline your children—ahead of time.  If a new situation arises, talk privately first and come to agreement with your spouse—before you approach your children.  Show your kids you’re unified, it’s easier for you, and much better for them.  If you have more than one child, be sure to apply these principles of discipline across the board.  Don’t show favoritism.  For more on how to discipline your child, listen to my wife, Susan, and me on this week’s podcast at MarkMerrill.com. (You can download the transcript too.)