I believe that it is a common phenomenon among parents that if they seem to agree to something, a child will take that as a definite promise.  That child will then move heaven and earth in order to hold his or her parent’s feet to the fire regarding the so-called promises.  But promises are a serious matter, of more weight than a child’s willfulness.  Promises are sacred, after all, which is why we make them publicly very infrequently. Making promises to oneself seems like a good thing.  After all, each of us fights the battle of daily discipline.  And on the occasion that we fail to live up to our…