Did you know that "discipline" should always be an opportunity to learn?
Many parents feel uncomfortable with their sometimes role as "disciplinarian" when their child makes a mistake or bad choice. But rather than look at the situation with dread and fear of a power struggle, try to address it with a matter-of-fact attitude and a logical approach. Your role is really to teach your daughter how the world works and how to make better choices. It's not necessary to repeatedly review your child's "crime" – once it's clear they understand that they've made a mistake, move on to discussing the most logical consequence possible. For example, if you find that your daughter has not been completing her homework, ban the phone/Internet/TV each night until she has completed her homework and reviewed it with you. (If necessary, you might also establish a parent-teacher communication system that ensures that you know what homework expectations are.) This way, the negative behavior is replaced by a positive behavior that will reap positive consequences for both of you, and lead to increased independence and maturity in your daughter.
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