Comments on The Overflowing Cup: The SIns of the Father

Maybe this is why midwestern folks like bland food...

2009-06-30T12:11:14.530-05:00

Maybe this is why midwestern folks like bland food...Yes, at least hot sauce (or vinegar) is food, not battery acid. And we're not talking about them downing a tablespoon of it. It is a lot less harmful than some of the common American snacks that are marketed to our kids - like "Fruit" roll-ups, etc. Maybe there is a better way, and I'm also open to hearing it. I don't want to encourage an aversion to hot sauce because personally I love a burrito that'll burn the lining right off the inside of my cheeks(mouth). But the immediate point IS to create an aversion or distaste or even hatred for lying. Honesty is the foundation of our whole free economic system, blah, blah, blah don't get me started :).
My rule on discipline, if I wouldn't submit to the same consequence for the same infraction then I'm possibly treading over the line for abuse.
See Hebrews 12 - it's my job and privilege to correct attitudes and actions in love.
I'd rather be known for exerting authority firmly and take the risk that maybe the kids don't like it all the time than take the risk they grow up thinking it doesn't matter to me what they do. IF they think that they will soon form the opinion of themselves that THEY don't matter at all.
The discernment for when and how to show mercy amid the clear need for justice is probably the most difficult part for me.
Looking forward to your discussion on the rod...

Anonymous, do you have any suggestions for alterna...

2009-06-29T09:33:41.082-05:00

Anonymous, do you have any suggestions for alternatives? We are struggling with a stubborn 3-year-old ourselves and have tried many many things some that work better than others but I'm ALWAYS open for new ideas and recommendations.

On a side note, I remember a summer day between preschool and kindergarten. I was out playing on the swingset using a swear word (I don't remember which one) repeatedly. My mom hollered out at me to quit using that word or I would get soap in my mouth. I chose to continue using the word and promptly was brought kicking and screaming into the bathroom for my soap. It was forced into my mouth and kept there for a few seconds. I didn't swear again (any swear word) until high school. The moral of the story is multi-fold: I CHOSE to continue acting in a way that I knew was going to lead to soap in my mouth; I learned my lesson for a long time; at least hot sauce is food, I doubt that soap has much positive nutritional value; my guess is that 25 years ago no one would've even batted an eye at a toddler getting a mouthful of soap now a "touch of hot sauce" is considered "abusive."

No, I don't think it's abusive. I'm g...

2009-06-28T15:49:35.133-05:00

No, I don't think it's abusive. I'm guessing that if you have children, you don't spank them either. Some people consider this abusive as well. I am not among them. Maybe I'll do a post on all this soon and we can all have a great debate.
**My children, by the way, have not suffered any health problems or ill effects from the hot sauce. If they did, I wouldn't do it anymore. THAT would be cruel.

A touch of hot sauce on the tongue? That seems a ...

2009-06-28T09:11:20.909-05:00

A touch of hot sauce on the tongue? That seems a bit abusive don't you think? Everyone has varied sensitivities to hot sauce and for children even more so!! How cruel!!