I am so glad the strike is working. I never once thought you were raising them without discipline...if yuo had been you would not have been so upset over their actions.
Lack of parenting and discipline also equals a lack of emotion over their behavior. So, I knew you were doing the right thing and they were just being little toerags.
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I do not know what it makes me but I know one thing. I can smile when my now 24 year old calls me and says "Mom, you remember when you said x y z and made me do x y z? Well now I see why why you made me, thanks"
I remeber at age 5, he was running through the clothes racks in Sears and I told him twice to stop it and not do it again. The third time he did it, I snatched him up and put my hand on his backside. On the third swing for his backside some stranger grabs my wrist and tells me not to strike that child again. I told her to release me or receive worse. I asked her if she wanted him and she stuttered... ummmm no but ummm and she headed off to get the manager and I kept shopping.
She returned with the manager and she was busy telling him I was spanking my son and he said What did he do? I told him and the manager looked at my son and said..."Boy, you know better. Let me hear of you doing this again and I will wear your butt out" Kids eyes bugged out, the woman's jaw fell open and I laughed and said Thanks Dad.
She had gone and found the manager who was also the grandfather and my father.
I really believe that the laws enacted to protect children (which were meant for those cases of abuse) are prohibiting parents from being parents. They are prohibiting teachers from teaching and controlling their classrooms. They are causing the problems in a major part and certainly pushing the problems along.
A friend back in NC had a 17 yr old that was sneaking out of the house, smoking dope and skipping school. She caught him leaving one night and she locked all the doors and windows. When he came back she refused to let him in the house. Her thought was to teach him a harsh lesson. long story short. cops show up and tell her that UNTIL he is 18 years old, she is responsible for him and cannot kick him out.
So, she is responsible for him and his actions but cannot do anything about his behavior.
I know one thing...the day they come to my door and tell me when I can punish my child, how and for how long, when I can spank her or for what, is the day they take her and raise her. She knows this and would prefer to stay here where she is and do what I ask or suffer my punishment. Amazing when you give them the choice, they can think for themselves and figure out where they are better off.