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From: mostek@ihnp4.UUCP (James Mostek)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: How to discipline short of spanking
Message-ID: <704@ihnp4.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Jan-85 14:08:01 EST
Article-I.D.: ihnp4.704
Posted: Fri Jan 18 14:08:01 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Jan-85 01:30:02 EST
References: <286@ho95b.UUCP> <296@desint.UUCP> <110@spp3.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 32

My parents made us kneel in a corner facing the corner when we were bad.
Spanking occurred when we did something very very wrong (i.e. covered the
porch with mommy's cold cream), maybe a couple times a year.

The kneeling made you think about what you just did and feel pretty bad
about upsetting your parents.
Anyway, I've followed the same basic concept with my kids (after they reached
about 3 or 4).
When they disobey or do something wrong, they are instructed to sit in a
chair or on the floor for a stretch of time (usually 5 or 10 minutes).
Their instructions are to sit still and make no noises.
If they disobey, the time is increased (depending on the infraction) usually
around 5 to 10 minutes extra.
At the end of the silent period, they must appologize.
This discipline usually works, but there are occasions when I do spank.

I try to be extremely loving with the children.
Lots of hugs and kisses and the like.
This is the best discipline.
It creates an atmosphere where the kids don't test responsiblity or
try to aggravate. Rather, they go out of their way to try to make us happy.

Don't get me wrong, our home life has problems like most.
We loose tempers, aren't always patient, ...
But, we keep trying to improve.

Parents aren't always "good" (they loose tempers, don't listen to
their children, and on some very infrequent occasions deserve spankings).
Parenting is one of the toughest careers around, especially when it's done
part-part-time.
-- 
          James Mostek, Bell Labs @ Naperville, ihnp4!mostek