Discipline

There has been a lot of discussion about discipline on the many web groups I am on lately. I almost never read messages from most of my groups where the members are in Calgary, I am drawn more to my group of KONOS users (our unit study curriculum) and the group I joined of ladies who are blessed by the Above Rubies ministry. But I do get the daily digest from one of my Calgary groups, and I can tell you that this topic has been buzzing amongst homeschoolers again recently, in Canada and beyond!
I get really annoyed with the controversy that always follows, you know, to spank or not to spank, is it discipline, punishment, guidance, training? One of the threads that I was following was arguing over the terminology of it. Because wouldn't you agree that training is for dogs? I immediately balked at that statement, but then decided to give it more thought and yes, I balked again.
I train my kids. I guide them. I discipline them, teach them, punish them, love them, care for them, am constantly blessed by them. I learn from them. Does it really matter the word you use? I, personally, am not opposed to words, I like them, I use a different word for different times. Some in our country are opposed to words. Words like God, Jesus, crucifixion, resurrection, Christian, and marriage. I am not opposed to words.
Anyway, I do sometimes like the discipline topic to come up, in spite of the ensuing controversy, it does allow me to focus on that part of my parenting. To really think about it, to even pray about it.
I am so blessed to be a mom. My kids are so amazing and wonderful, even as dd3 has been learning about yelling lately! We were discussing this problem in the van tonight on the way home from dance. Dd3 was yelling (not crying - yelling) and so dd1 was going to give her a bottle, which of course was exactly what she wanted. But it got us discussing how that was just teaching her that if she wants her bottle (which she can say, by the way, she says bahta) all she needs to do is make a lot of AWFUL noise. So I told dd1, make her ask for it, ask her if she wants her bottle, or her cup, or her snack, or whatever and ask her to say please. Now, obviously she can't talk, but she can make nicer sounds than the NOISE that was coming from the back seat! I told her as soon as she makes any noise that is not a gross yelling type of sound, give it to her and ask her to say thank you.
Now, dd1 does understand that the baby won't really say the words, but it is still teaching (training, disciplining, loving, etc) her communication skills (and she won't sign anything anymore except "all done"). Although I am going to remind dd1 that we need to use the signs even if she isn't because she is just beginning to realize that she has power over situations! What a cutie!
No, I like words, sometimes what we are doing is teaching, sometimes training, sometimes guiding, and sometimes even disciplining. But what a blessing it is to be a part of all of it, and to actually get to be the one to do it, instead of having to be out at work, having my kids raised by someone else.

Lovingly,
C
Who is grateful to God for his provision of a good job that provides financially for me to be at home!