Discipline is one of the most important things in the life of a child. I call it " the hardest way of showing love to a child.”
It is tough, it is painful, but it is also love. I grew up in a very strict home. My father was loving and playful, but he was also an excellent disciplinarian.
When I was much younger, I didn't like the disciplinary part of him, but today, I always appreciate him for that.
Traits like lying, stealing, disrespect, and fighting were highly frowned upon by my father. As much as he plays with us, the moment you exhibit any of those traits, he keeps the merciful side of fatherhood aside and instantly employs the ministry of the rod.
He will flog that habit out of you with his right hand, then draw you with his left hand and comfort you.
Because of this, we were scared of committing an offence, we were always careful not to fall victim because we knew that there was no amount of pleading and apologies that would spare us from punishment whenever we went wrong.
All thanks to God for such a home, it has made me the man that I am today. It hurts me when I see certain parents neglecting the place of physical discipline, all in the name of showing love to their children.
A child would do something abominable, sometimes consciously, and the parents would overlook it; some would even smile and say, “he is just a child.”
The question I always ask in such scenarios is, " Is it when he becomes an adult that you intend to correct him?
Spanking and other forms of instant corrections don't kill, yes, it might instill some level of fear into the child, and I think that's fine, because that fear can become a reason for the child to keep away from certain things.
If all you do is talk and smile, your children are in danger of becoming whatever life makes of them, and you are to be held responsible.
Sometimes you need to step up and take a little action. Spank the child, scold the child, ground the child. Let them know that their actions are bad and be sorry.
Nevertheless, I don't think that the absence of physical discipline is responsible for children's misconduct when they become adults.
In truth, discipline plays a crucial role in the lives of people, yet at some point, everyone decides what they want to become in life, whether good or evil.
Discipline would show them a path to follow, but it will not by default enforce it on anyone.
So, whether or not physical discipline is in the picture, people will still become whatever it is in their hearts to become.
But left to me, I will advise that parents take discipline seriously and not just use words but involve spanking where necessary, but it should be done with love and wisdom.
Some parents, in the name of discipline, gave their children indelible scars and memories. True discipline doesn't involve cruelty and brutality.
Those things won't transform the child; the best they can do is make your child think that you hate him or her. But when you apply love and wisdom, the equation would be balanced.
N.B: All Images Were Generated By Gemini AI
