There were 3 boys in our house. We were rowdy.....and we were whipped. Not one time did I ever believe any correction I received were out of anger. I was a kid, but I wasn't stupid. I knew when I did wrong and I understood the consequence. I knew my parents loved me.
A parent who may lash out in anger doesn't need a reason....only an excuse. Today, the line between correction and anger has been skewed to the point any physical correction is now considered abuse. We are a lesser country for it today.
I feel for anyone who may have been struck out of anger...but I do not resent any correction my parents deemed fit. I guess they would be considered abusive by todays (non) standard......I believe they were great parents.
I'll also thank a teacher I had in the third grade...I wish I remembered her name, but I remember vividly how she corrected me and imo, the profound effect it had in my life.
See, I was a hellion. A pest. Nothing destructive, but lets just say I deserved every whippin I ever got. I guess today I'd be drugged up, labeled with some alphebet disease.....But this one time, she had enough. She left the room, told us to keep seated...But I couldn't and she came in and caught me....Calling kids names, makin em cry ( I was good at it). She took me by the arm and proceeded to use a ruler on my hand. Several times. Up and down the rows. Seemed like an eternity, but I'm sure it was only a second or two.
Embarrassed the hell out of me....and after that, all it took was the threat....Funny, I became an A student after that incident.
If I were given "time out" by my parents, who knows where I'd be. If I was just sent home or passed from grade to grade, who knows where I'd be.
Such a simple term.....Easily understood.... "spare the rod, spoil the child".....
