@bcasanov: sorry I suggested trying to work out your problem on your own in the other thread. I misunderstood your level of trust with your parents, and I'm glad you have it all out in the open.

It seems we all agree that trust and communication is the way to go. How do you all feel about punishment for transgressions? Personally, I think that if a kid is caught doing something the parents don't like, it's important to explain why they don't like it, how it could hurt them, and what they should do in the future to make it more safe. For example, teenagers willgo out and get drunk - I don't think it helps at all to ground them for a month after doing so. Instead, it seems like a better idea for the parents to help them appreciate alcohol (i.e. letting them have beer or wine at dinner), and to offer to come pick them up at a party instead of having them drive home drunk and that sort of thing.

Maybe it's reasonable to send a 5-year-old to their room for having a tantrum, but once a kid is old enough start really getting into trouble, I don't think straight up punishment is the right approach.