by Delia Messier
When my nephew was 9 years old, his parents asked me if I could take care of him for one week. They were worn out and at their wits end with him. His behavior had gotten so bad that they were afraid of him, and not knowing what he might do to them when they were asleep, they would lock their bedroom door at night.
I was willing to take him but with the understanding that I would spank him if and when necessary. They would not spank him themselves, but they knew that I would treat him with love and respect, so they agreed to the condition.
When they left him with me, the first thing I did was to take him aside and explained to him how precious he was to all of us. And that while he was with us, I had expectations of him and also cited the things that would not be tolerated; letting him know that if necessary I would spank him, and how this would be done.
As the hours passed that day, he went out of his way to test me, and he received the appropriate corrections, which were always followed with hugs and kisses. I would let him know that I cared for him and what kind of person he was and what kind of person he would grow up to be—and that I was helping him to be this person that he really wanted to be!
The next morning things continued the same, but by 10 am he asked to call his father. “Sure,” I said, thinking that he had had enough! “Hi Dad,” he said, “I LIKE IT HERE, CAN I STAY LONGER?”
Today, my nephew has grown up with children of his own, and some years ago he expressed to us that he was very thankful for those spankings and that they changed his life. Is spanking your children out of control parenting? Or is it children who are never spanked who have out of control parents?
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