February 9, 2008

• Do you think corporal punishment - spanking - is child abuse? Why or why not?

  Most people don't know the difference between punishment and discipline.  Punishment is the last means of making one pay for wrong doing while discipline is using positive or negative reinforcement to help one change to a set standard.  Punishment is usually for criminals.

  With that said, I don't think children need punishment, but they definitely need discipline.  Sometimes discipline means corporal discipline, which is generally a spanking.  Even though that wasn't actually the question, I wanted to clarify MY terms so you could relate to what I was saying.

  So the question to me is now "Do you think corporal discipline - spanking - is child abuse?  In and of itself, no, it is not child abuse.  Improperly used, it can and has been child abuse.  What's improper?  When the spanking hurts the child physically (like bruises, bleeding, etc.), then it has become abuse.  When the spanking hurts that padded rear end so that the child decides to conform to the standards set, even with the tears, then it's been properly used.  The rebellion has been stifled, but the child's spirit has not been broken.

  There's a fine line between doing enough, and going to far.  You may disagree with my sentiments and I haven't fully explained what I think, but this has been my opinion.  I think some of today's problems stem from not correctly discipling our children, which includes the lack of spankings and also the abuse by spankings.  There is a happy medium, even though our children may not agree to it will getting their bisquits burned.

  I just answered this Featured Question, you can answer it too!

  On The Northern Front, or Fighting the Sinus Infection

  Had another visit with the doctor today.  I'm doing a lot better with not having a sinus infection.  My head is a lot clearer and I'm not coughing like I was.  However, the steroids and the antibiotics have shot my bloodsugar way out of whack.  The last 4 or 5 days have seen my fasting levels at 250 to 285, and that's not fun.  Also, the sugar rich blood promotes things like fermentation (infections elsewhere) which are temporary (unless it gets out of control) and is in doc's allowable circumstances surrounding my healing.

  One thing that has not been acceptable has been the coughing that has brought a huge strain on my vocal chords.  I've not been able to talk, except with a rasp, for the last couple of weeks.  Now, I'm losing that capablility.  I'm having a really really really hard time with talking.  There may have been some damage (repairable) to my vocal chords and now I'm under strick orders not to talk for the next 36 to 72 hours.  Geemyknee!  The doc grinned when he said my Hunni would love that.  I grinned back when I struggled to say that my son would, too.  Then the doc said the clock just started over and I really needed to just write stuff down.

  So, it's now the silent treatment.

  The FogWalker is currently experiencing the lack of painless oblivion.....maybe it will come soon while sitting in silence...
  

  • 4:09 am
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