"When I think of discipline, the first image that comes to mind is that of a stern-faced teacher, bun on head and ruler in hand; ready to give any disobedient children a firm smack on the back of the hand with it. It's strange that I would imagine this, as I was born in the 80s, well after the abolishment of corporal punishment in the classroom. Yet further pondering conjures up other like images. The frowning father, the perpetually disappointed mother, and the most frightening of all -- the freedom snatching, fun-restricting God...(continued)"

"Many of us, when growing up, would hear from our parents that they disciplined us because they loved us. As a kid, that’s hard to take. And, frankly, hard to believe. But as an adult, I can appreciate the truth in that statement. Out of their love for us, our parents wanted us to learn, and we learned (among other ways) through discipline...(continued)" 

“Mommy, is it time to get up?”  My three-year-old’s voice filtered into the bedroom from the hall.  I forced my eyes open and squinted at the numbers on the bedside clock.  Seven-thirty?  How could it be that late already?  “Yes,” I answered my daughter, “it’s time to get up.”  And indeed it was time for the kids to rise but I should have been out of bed over two hours ago...(continued)"