Through junior high we sent our son to private (Cristian, primarily Baptist) schools. We had very clear expectations, but not a lot of overly burdensome rules. His schoolmates from obviously Evangelical families had lots of rules and parents obviously explained the proliferation of rules with, "Because we love you." So I'm fairly certain that at some point he got asked, "Why do you not have so many rules? Is it because your parents don't love you?"

He was obviously concerned about this, so he asked me one day, "Daddy, why don't you and mom have as many rules for me as my friends have?" My explanation was that when he was younger and daddy's belt came off, that was teaching him right and wrong, and now that he knew the difference he did not need all those rules. He replied, "Well, I didn't like it when you did that, but I sure am glad you did."