The topic of child discipline came up today with some friends. We might as well have been talking about politics or religion because with parents, their way was the best way, the only way to assure we won't raise a mass murderer and each had some sort of book to support their point of view.
When I was a kid, there was only one method of discipline I knew about, you got spanked. We would get spanked with a switch, whipped with a belt, a shoe, a fly swatter, or what ever was close when spanker was angry at the spankee!
Wellll, this tradition lives on in the Ozarks and I am not saying it is a bad one but don't be surprised, parents, when you have some very creative kids that will turn it around on you, to teach the parents a lesson. I saw the message as, "Don't spank me, you will be sorry you did if I ever get hurt real bad."
Attached to this post is exactly what happened to my neice when her kids pranked her. I am sure there was older cousin involvement too, a little kid could not have pulled this off without careful planning by those what could climb, carry, then direct the actions, or lack of action, by her son.
I won't even go into the ruckus upon first sight of her child, as you can only imagine if you saw your child like this. After my neice realized her child was safe and she pretended to have gotten what ever message the kids were trying to send, there are differences of opinion about the message, she had her son stay in the tree so she could take a picture. She posted this on facebook so my Niece has a GREAT sence of humor.
AND...."What a GREAT Mom!" I would have been tempted to whomp the hell out of all of them kids for giving me a heart attack, or close to one. It's one thing for us to hurt our own kids, another thing for someone else to even look at them wrong, right?
What do you think about this payback from her kids?
the imagination of kids is amazing when they are forced to get out of the house and away from the tv ,computer etc.
ReplyDeleteYou know it griper and these kids are outside 99% of the time, what a great picture, after my neice said she stopped screaming, then she cried with relief, then she yelled at the kids then hugged them all! T
DeleteGlad I grew up before TV became a sport. Walter Cronkite and a few hours after. Got the belt here. Paddles at school. So far I'm growing up ok.
ReplyDeleteBobby, you are a role model, that paddle ever find your behind at school? I am happy your are growing up okay. It was different when the TV was off the air at 10, Howdy Doody was the rage and we worked to save pennys for a bite of candy rather than screamed until we got what we wanted. I am not as confident I grew up as well as you but I am not in jail, today.....thanks for stopping by, T
DeleteFolks, I usually write a few of these at a time and delay post. This was written prior to the Colorado shootings, as you can tell by the timestamp when it was posted, otherwise, my wording would have been much more respectful. I am thinking of closing this post, let me know what you think. My heart goes out to the victims, the families, the survivors and everyone whose heart was touched by such an aweful act of insanity against the innocent. Terri
ReplyDeletePlease don't close the post! It was a great story and it's amazing what the imagination of a kid can come up with. You were only sharing your stories of a way of life that was. Also, sharing the feeling every parent has experienced and can identify with.
ReplyDeleteThere is no book for parenting and it can be a terrifying thing at times and we have all experienced the feelings of anger, fustration and confusion when it comes to dealing with our kids. I have to believe all parents do the best we can and we regret when we stumble, fall down and skin our noses.
We are all humans and we all make terrible decisions sometimes. Then there are people who are seriously messed up and do horrific things which there are no answers for, other than, they are very ill. No one in their right minds does such terrible things and cause such massive pain and heartache.
Unfortunately, life just ain't fair! And it's what we do as survivors, from our hearts, is what matters in the end. I was violently abused physically and mentally as a child. It left deep wounds and scars, but as a child I swore, if I ever have kids, they will never experience abuse. I made the choice to stop the cycle of abuse. It is a matter of choice for each and every single one of us, unless we are so ill, that a person can not make a choice. Or, we make the dedcision to use it as an excuse to harm people.
My heart aches for the victims and their families from the massacre in Colorado. But please, don't close the post, you bring your honesty and contemplation to your readers.
Awww, Debbie, thank you. I have been off the blog for a while due to illness, no other reason. Now I am thinking of retirement and may try to put many of my ideas into longer form and bug the hell out of publishers. I will see if I can break a record for "respectfully declined" letters, ha. Many of my ideas came from my grandson and are children's book, a youth book. We all have those dreams. Thanks for your feedback and I am just so sorry it took me this long to read your words of encouragement.
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