Rationality is key in displining children.
I think that my father did an excellent job in this department. Since my dad was the primary disciplinarian, he was the one who spanked us.
When he did, we would have a discussion with him. This was an opportunity for us to explain our motivation for doing what we did. Afterward, we would discuss what should have been the proper course of action. Then he would ask us for our thoughts on what our punishment should be. He would add to/ agree with that and that would be the first part of our punishment. We did have an input in our punishment, which helped bring home our own understanding of every action having a consequence. My father would also give us a spanking in addition to the agreed punishment because he knew that the world won't treat us as nice for this behavior, so with a spanking, it would stop there because of a fear of getting caught. He told us that was one of his rationale. In addition, he often quoted Proverbs 13:24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." He told us that it is because of his love for us that he has to do this, and that one day, I would thank him for it.
I'm here to tell you, I am thankful for my father's well thought out methods for discipling me. I've always had that fear of the consequences for wrongful actions. I know right from wrong. I think that when I am blessed to be married and have children, I will ask my husband to follow this model. Because by my mom yielding to my dad on this, we learned about authority (because my father is the head of his house) and consequences.
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I will bless the Lord at ALL times His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalms 34:1, KJV)
[This message has been edited by nikki25 (edited August 17, 2000).]
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