[Palladin]

My simple advice: bring back spanking! Children under the age of seven or eight (what was formerly called the "age of reason"), are little more than two-legged animals. They can be conditioned to behave well much as dogs can. Reward good behavior; punish bad behavior with a good smart spank on the bottom.

I have just spent seven days with two very badly behaved grandchildren , age 3 1/2 and 5 1/2. It was not very pleasant. They shrieked, spilled, spat, hit, threw objects, disobeyed, sat at the dinner table loudly proclaiming "I hate all that stuff"; and after opening their Christmas gifts stated boldly, "Is that all there is?"

I am embarrassed to claim them as my grandchildren. My daughter is a high school teacher with a Master's Degree. Her husband is a Lutheran minister with a Master's in Theology. They have bought into the modern childrearing methods of negotiation, cajoling, being "best friends" with the kids, and worst of all, never saying "NO!".

I'd love to email the above article to my daughter, but she would probably never speak to me again.

[netmilsmom]

I have had to give my children one spanking each in their lives. Now when I threaten to spank, they know what it is.
More than spanking, removal from the situation is most important. In otherwords, "If you can't behave like a human, you will not be with the humans." Even my three year old has had the "Go to your room" treatment. When she will not move, I remove her and hold the door closed while she bellows. It takes consistency more than anything else and children must know what a spank is to be able to hold it above them.

Please send the article to your daughter, do it for her children. They deserve a parent willing to put in an effort.

[Gabz]

My simple advice: bring back spanking!

It occurs in my household.

Fortunately all of my friends and family that are exposed to my child know that if I am not in the immediate vicinity and she acts up she is to be corrected immediately. And she knows that if certain people do correct her she is to respond immediately. It works most of the time.

[Glenn]

I'd love to email the above article to my daughter, but she would probably never speak to me again.

So you have become your daughter. Ample fodder for therapy there.

[Oberon]

I'd love to email the above article to my daughter, but she would probably never speak to me again.

Well... tell her "NO!"

Yeah, I know... I wish it were that simple.

[utahagen]

My sister and brother-in-law were in a bind when they had kids because both believe that kids should be raised in a no-nonsense, disciplined manner, but neither believed in spanking. I can't believe it, but they have pulled off what I would have thought impossible: using "time-outs" but no spankings, thay have (so far) raised a six year old boy and a four year old girl who are very well behaved. I think there are reasons even conservatives like us freepers may has misgivings about corporal punishment, and I recommend parents look into the "time out" method. My sister and her husband employ it and their kids are not spoiled at all.

[XBob]

9 - "I'd love to email the above article to my daughter, but she would probably never speak to me again."

sounds like you created the 'monster' - your daughter - by doing exactly what this article is about - teaching her not to discipline her kids.

If you had any sense you would personally carry it to her and read it over with her, line by line.

But apparently you, like the daughter you raised, are afraid of your children.

[dhs12345]

I was brought up in a family that spanked.

However, I haven't spanked my son once; haven't needed to. And he rarely spends time in "time out."

Some important points:

1. I am still the disciplinarian. And I say "no" a lot. To date, my son has never questioned me.

2. My wife and I "conspire" against our son. We never allow him to divide us.

3. I tell my son and show my son that I love him. Love and affection along with punishment (non-violent) are very effective methods of discipline. Many people forget that showing affection can be a very powerful form of positive reinforcement.

4. I pick my fights. I don't rant and rave about silly things. And I always try to do things that make sense.

5. My son gets a lot of one on one time.

Disclaimer: we only have one child and my son is still very young (almost seven years). Some say that you are not a parent until you have more than one child.

However, so far it is going pretty well (crossing my fingers).

[Siamese Princess]

I have just spent seven days with two very badly behaved grandchildren , age 3 1/2 and 5 1/2. It was not very pleasant. They shrieked, spilled, spat, hit, threw objects, disobeyed, sat at the dinner table loudly proclaiming "I hate all that stuff"; and after opening their Christmas gifts stated boldly, "Is that all there is?"

No doubt about it, your grandchildren are liberals-in-the-making. After all, what is liberalism but the outlook on life of a spoiled, self-centered brat who thinks that the world exists to make him happy?