(Disclaimer: I have never actually attended any seminars or read any books about parenting with love & logic, someone just told me once that this particular philosophy encourages allowing your kids to experience natural consequences rather than rescuing them from their mistakes.)
Brock forgot to pack his church clothes on our trip to Texas. So we figured that the natural consequence of his mistake (other than letting him wear shorts and flip flops to church--which was his suggestion) would be to take him to the local Goodwill and let him spend his own money on something suitable to wear to church. Being the good sport that he is, our ridiculously compliant 13-year-old cheerfully rummaged through the racks of last season's hand me downs, tried on a dozen pairs of already broken-in shoes, and managed to piece together a semi-respectable ensemble for less than $20. He stood in the check-out line alone, with cash in hand, and made friendly chit chat with the cashier who asked him where he was from and what he was shopping for. He told her that he was from Missouri and was buying clothes to attend church while on vacation with his family. At which point, a kind stranger stepped in front of him, swiped his own credit card for the clothes, and told Brock to save his money for something else. Just like that. Parenting sabotaged. And now the parents have learned their own lesson: When children make mistakes, don't rescue them from the natural consequences of their error. Because some kind stranger will step in at the last moment and rescue them for you.
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