For instance, "unreasonably high" is from the perspective of one of the children. I'm sure I lay down rules that my children think are unfair or unreasonable, just as I felt many of my parents' rules were unreasonable. Doesn't matter. Those were and are the rules, and they knew as I do now, that if I surrender on those rules, then other rules I may make will have no credibility and I will cease to be an effective parent.
Besides, in this case, given the goal of what can be obtained, the expectations aren't all that high.
You leave out the most important part, that this man tells his eldest son to help the other kids, and that as long as the others are doing all that they can, he can make up the difference for the "passing grade." The bar is set and cannot be lowered, but a way is provided so that all have the capability to reach it. |
