Childhood development experts say not to tell your kids "I'm going to leave you here if you don't come with me right now" or anything similar to this.
As it turns out, research shows this particular parenting move makes kids feel less secure and that the parents won't always be there to take care of them. The thought of their parents leaving them alone can have a big adverse effect on them. Amy says she's never used that phrase because her kids are adopted and they were left at an orphanage at a young age. She steers clear of any language that would insinuate leaving them.
Lunchbox on the other hand has used the phrase on multiple occasions. So far it's worked with his kids, but he thinks in about 2 more years they will start to call his bluff. He shared a crazy story that involved this particular phrase and his wife's family. His wife's family was on vacation when they were younger, and his wife's brother wouldn't leave the beach. Their dad threatened to leave, and still her brother wouldn't come. So they did actually leave him. They left him alone on the beach for 4 hours at 12-years-old. Lunchbox's wife recalls her parents being anxious and stressed out the entire time they were gone from her brother. But when they got back, he was still sitting on the beach. Her dad admitted years later that he felt horrible with the whole situation, however he felt he finally had to follow through on it.
The Bobby Bones Show discussed other lies their parents have told them just to get them to stop doing something the parents didn't like. Bobby recalled being told if he held his face in a funny position, he was told it would get stuck like that. Also, if he wore a hat then he would go bald.
Morgan recalled being told if she kept popping her knuckles, she would get arthritis quicker. Also, if she kept sitting too close to the TV, she would go blind. Lunchbox was told if he swallowed gum, it would stay in his stomach for 8 years. Amy was told if she ate the watermelon seeds, a watermelon would grow in her belly.
The one they all recall being told about had to do with lights on in the car. Morgan shared if she turned the lights on, she was told the police would pull them over. Bobby's grandma used to tell him she couldn't see whenever the lights were on. That's why Amy admitted she really can't see when the lights get turned on in the car so she gets why parents always said that.