Today’s topic which is a sore point for many is not being able to discipline children in the way parents see fit, and thrash them into becoming respectful little creatures who are subservient and ultimately polished human beings.
Of course, there is a fine line between being brought up this way if parents exaggeration causes emotional instability to a child, or makes a kid react aggressively towards others. However, nowadays most countries have a policy that children cannot be touched in any way which can be considered aggressiveness towards them.
That being said, it leaves some parents being manipulated by their offspring. In turn, bringing up kids can become very frustrating. Some of them cause strife all the time, disrespecting one or the other, not abiding by the values parents try to instill, or turn to violence against family members.
UNICEF speaking on behalf of general consensus on child protection says, ‘Every child has the right to live free from violence, exploitation and abuse.’ It happens in every country, and in the places, children should be most protected: their homes, schools and online. Violence against children can be physical, emotional or sexual. And in many cases, children suffer at the hands of the people they trust.
However, a smack bottom can do wonders for keeping children in line. Strict discipline gets parents the respect they deserve. If only others wouldn’t get involved with something that most of the time they don’t understand because they weren’t involved in the first place. I’m talking about do gooders who judge parents prematurely on what they think is abuse, when in reality it was the mother or father trying every trick in the book to tame their stallion.
A Greek Spartan kid’s childhood was a series of hardships, and they were known to be very (extremely!) strict towards their children. Their parenting style bordered on authoritarian. A Spartan child was sent off to a special military camp once he turned seven years old. Who is to say the Spartans tough approach wasn’t successful in saving lives down the road? Afterall, only the fittest survive!
One way to discipline a child that won't listen is to set up some clear rules and limits and make sure a child understands. Sometimes a refusal to listen is really a lack of understanding. Use consistent, logical consequences, as kids need to know what to expect when they don’t listen. Listen to a child's feelings and ask them kindly rather than in anger what's going on. If a consequence penalty is given, then follow through, and make sure the punishment is applied.
When I needed punishment, my parents would call me into the kitchen, close the doors, and ask me to pull down my pants. Then I’d get a smack bottom with a wooden spoon. It might seem harsh, but it worked. I drew the line and started making progress by avoiding doing those things wrongly, so they wouldn’t hit me again. Later it made sense that they were trying to help.
Now I look back with admiration for my parents teaching me quickly the price I would have to pay for doing things wrong. Incidentally, this technique was only used after several warnings, or if I had done something despicable.
Clearly, there are many techniques to getting children to learn what works and what doesn’t, what they can and cannot do to steer them in the right direction.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
Subservient (adj) = submissive, obedient, compliant, passive, docile
In turn (idiom) = 1. In succession; one after the other. "Four men prayed in turn." one by one, one at a time, successively, sequentially, in order. 2. used to convey that an action, process, or situation is the result or product of a previous one. "He would shout until she, in her turn, lost her temper."
Smack bottom (n) = A spanking, i.e., to strike smartly with the hand, especially on the buttocks; a form of corporal punishment. You're going the right way for a smacked bottom.
Do gooders (n) = an earnest often naive humanitarian or reformer. (syn) improver, gropes, anti-windfarm, bigot, careerist, leftie, half-wit and know-nothing, whingers (UK informal = a person who complains a lot in an annoying way.
Every trick in the book (idiom) = every available method of achieving what one wants.
Tame their stallion (metaphor) = tame means to domesticate an animal or in a stallion’s case of an uncastrated male horse which needs to be broken into subservience. As a metaphor it is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. "Get their child under control!"
Steer (v) = to direct, pilot, navigate, cox, drive, handle, lead. As a noun it can be an animal such as ox or bull. A steer can also be called bullock, young neutered male cattle primarily raised for beef.