A parent must be constant and even-handed in the imposition of burdens and punishments and the distribution of liberties and rewards. In good times, a parent who too quickly bestows rewards creates an expectation of future rewards that he may be unable to fulfill during bad times. In bad times, a parent who waits too long to impose the punishment gives the impression that his response was forced, and the child may interpret this as___________.
Which of the following represents the most logical continuation of the passage?
A) a signal from his parent that the parent is no longer interested in the child's welfare B) a sign of weakness in the parent that he can exploit C) indicating a willingness on the part of the parent to bargain away liberties in exchange for the child's assuming some new responsibilities. D) an open invitation to retaliate E) a symbol of his becoming an adult