Cracking the Proverbial Whip

Teaching forces me to learn, with that fully-integrated, behavior-altering, pain-in-the-neck kind of education. That's why the shady part of me cringes when asked to lead a discussion on subjects like humility, sacrifice, and

Discipline
Part I

I've never been a parent, but as one who babysat full-time for 10 years straight, I can say with reasonable authority that disciplining a child is both necessary and no fun.

It's not always as hard as it could be, though. At least "discipline" isn't synonymous with "punishment". Withholding a crayon from a child until he stops shoving it up his nose and then into his mouth for licking purposes is not punishment. It's a teaching moment, designed to protect the child's sinuses until he follows more hygienic and socially acceptable practices.

Still, discipline sucks.

Can the kid appreciate your noble goals for his training as he screams and strains for the only object in the world he wants at that moment? Probably not. And holding his booger crayon definitely hurts you more than him.

So why do you do it?

Sigh. If he only knew, it's for his own good. A 3-year-old using the crayon-nose combo as a Fun Dip is arguably cute. Not so cute when the perp is 30. Someday that sobbing, soggy mess of a toddler will thank you he's a well-adjusted, successful adult free of nasal occlusions.

The goal of discipline is to mold its subject for the sake of maturity.

Seen anybody lately you wished you could discipline?