
How Bad is it to Make Empty Threats to Your Kids?

Donnie Wahlberg + Jenny McCarthy Say Rach Is Such a "Joy" + Look…

Donnie Wahlberg Spills Details About NKOTB's First Ever Conventi…

The Best Moments From 17 Seasons of the Show Will Make You Laugh…

How to Make Crabby Carbonara | Rachael Ray

Rach Chats "Firsts" In Flashback From Our First Episode Ever In …

How to Make Tortilla with Potatoes, Piquillo Peppers and Mancheg…

How to Make Sesame Cookies | Buddy Valastro

Rach's Chef Pals Say Goodbye to Show in Surprise Video Message

How to Make Apple-Cider Braised Pork Chop Sandwiches with Onion …

How to Make Spanakopipasta | Rachael Ray

Andrew McCarthy Teases Upcoming "Brat Pack" Reunion Special

Michelle Obama Toasts Rach's 17 Years on the Air With a Heartfel…

How to Make Shrimp Burgers | Jacques Pepin

Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …

Andrew McCarthy Chokes Up Discussing Emotional Trip to Spain wit…

Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …

Should You Be Eating Nature Cereal? Dr. Ian Explains This Social…

Rach Shares Her Preferred Way To Cook a Chuck Roast

Should You Opt for Hydrogen Peroxide To Clean Your Ear Wax?
Parenting -- it’s not easy. All parents make mistakes (let’s be honest -- probably multiple times per day) but how bad are they, really? Our audience members got a chance to quiz pediatrician Dr. Deborah Gilboa to find out.
Imagine this scenario -- your child isn’t listening so you say something ridiculous -- like, “I’ll leave you at home if you don’t cooperate.” Except, you know that you won’t or can’t follow through on that threat.
Dr. Gilboa says that this is not a good idea. Making empty threats erodes trust, she explains. “I need your daughter to trust you, to know that if you say you’re going to do something, because what she’s doing isn’t acceptable, you mean it.”
MORE: How Bad Is It to Swear Around Your Child?
The ramifications will be long-lasting, she says, “If you say you’re going to do something to help her or save her, when she’s 15 and she’s at a party and she doesn’t have a safe ride home, I want her to know that she can trust you.”
The solution, according to the doctor? “Start building your credibility now. Come up with a threat that you can actually carry out,” she says.
MORE: How Bad Is It for Kids to Skip Toothbrushing in the Morning?