To spank or not to spank...

Today, we discussed corporal punishment in schools.

Overwhelmingly, you guys were all for it. I am all for it as well.

Not because I promote abuse. Don’t be ridiculous!

Not because I want discipline left solely to someone else because I can’t be bothered.

But, because kids these days need to know that although they do have lots of choices, they’re still kids. They still need guidance. And although they may decide whether or not they want peas or carrots for dinner or if they want to clean their room now or 15 minutes from now; it is never a choice for them to be rude, disruptive or disrespectful.

There are a lot of kids these days who don’t realize what limits are. They think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. They talk to people in whatever tone suits them and it doesn’t matter if they are vulgar or profane. Most of them are fearless and don’t give a flying rats whisker if they’ve offended you. They know no boundaries. A paddle to the backside might cure that, or at least bring them back down to reality.

I am entitled to my opinion and here it is… Kids today have it too easy.

They’re asked to do too little, and more often than not, they’re not held accountable. These days, instead of getting a good old fashioned whack on the tush, they have a ‘discussion’. Instead of getting their mouth washed out with soap for cussing, they get a 20 minute lecture on why ‘those words are bad’. Kids don’t usually make it much past the first 3 – 5 minutes of a ‘discussion’ or ‘lecture’, but a little bit of heat for the seat makes them consider things a little longer, and perhaps it will remind them to think a little harder before they make another potentially poor choice.

It doesn’t matter if they’re in airports, Laundromats, or restaurants – kids are kids and will be loud and obnoxious. They will push the limits continually. As kids, we all did the same thing! Pushing the limit is part of what being a kid is all about! And as a species we need to know what’s acceptable for us and what isn’t. Pushing the limit is how we find out.

For discipline in its purest form, let’s go to nature for a second. How do Lions show their young the necessary skills to be a good hunter? They lead by example. How do pack animals like wolves teach their little ones to behave and stay in line? They grab a hold of them and show them what’s up! (Trust me, if animals had thumbs, they’d probably be using our paddles!)

My point is, as parents, it starts with us. If we teach our children what’s proper and acceptable while they’re young, they’ll grow up and remember the lessons. We are the ones who teach them how to be productive and responsible citizens before we send them out into society.

I am not saying that paddling kids is the end all, be all - or that a nice crack on the bottom is going to automatically make all children into little saints and productive members of their community, but it will teach them at the very least that there are consequences to their actions.

Rock on with your bad self,

H