Today, we were called in to a well-known preschool in town, as I had given my child a hiding. Or no, let me rephrase, my life partner, had given my child a hiding.
Much as I appreciated what the teachers had to say and took their input and advice to heart, I did realise one thing, which I feel I should share…
Throughout the inquisition, a lot was said regarding the emotional and spiritual well-being of a child and how it “emotionally scars” a child to be “beaten”.
My child was most certainly not beaten, but got a hiding. I’m sure most of you have heard of a hiding and no, it’s not a swearword! When I was small, my mom and dad didn’t give two hoots or a holler about my “emotional well-being”. When our parents were small, their parents weren’t bothered about that kind of thing either. How did all of us turn out? Quite well, even if I have to say so myself.
I was not scared of my parents, I had (and still have) respect for them. I listened to them, I didn’t think that I could rule the roost, just because them punishing me, would result in me being a broken person.
Am I wrong to think that too much is being done to protect childrens’ emotional and spiritual well-being, while doing nothing to teach them about discipline, respect, integrity and morals?
While the teachers were talking about my child, who will grow up to be scarred and broken, there were children screaming at their teachers, ignoring their teacher’s pleas to please get down from the roof they had succeeded in climbing on, who were hitting, pinching and biting their classmates. My “broken” child, on the other hand, was reading a book and playing with her friends; quietly and well behaved.
I do not believe that corporal punishment is the only way to have a well behaved, well-adjusted child. However, I do believe that a hiding does have it’s place in raising a child.
Maybe we should stop focusing on all the “how to be a good parent” nonsense that we are being fed and get back to basics: teaching our kids about respect, good manners, love etc.
The “bad” mommy
