For parents there is a fine line to walk between supporting their kids so they have confidence and punishing your mistakes. Some times it's best to be hard on them, sometimes not. While it may seem harsh to punish a lot, they need to do it to prepare you for the world when you grow up, because it is certainly not going to go easy on you. Better to learn while you're young than fail as soon as you try to live independently. Hard work is important, but no one expects you to work all the time.