When I was a child, I was taught to choose between good and bad choices. I was warned by my parents to not touch the stove when it was turned on so I would not receive a burn. Also to not stand too close to the fireplace with flowing clothes on. To pull my hair back when I was leaning over my birthday cake to keep my hair from being burned by the candles.
I can't recall ever thinking that my parents were bad or unloving parents for giving me these warnings. Of course if my parents never balanced it all out with loving mannerisms, I guess it would have warped my young mind. So I agree that we must be careful what we preach, and balance it with God's love as well as His warnings. So we can be thankful if we were blessed to have parents that knew how to balance all of that out in our lives. Just like our heavenly Father does.