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Sounds like an interesting story -- if we're ever in the same town I'll buy
you a beer and you can tell me the whole thing. <g> If I understand your
point, you're saying that when kids do these things, they have their own
reasons,
and those reasons should be respected as much as our own? I'm not
disagreeing
-- just want to make sure I understand.

Peace,
Amy

Amy, sorry, I got confused there, so also sorry to Tia! To answer your
question, yes, I think their reasons should be respected as much as ours, but also
I think we need to actually take the TIME to find out what their reasons are.
And when they don't know, I try to help my children think a little further,
but if they can't figure it out, well, heck, sometimes I can't figure out why I
do things either. But I think it all comes down to what was said
earlier-parents (from what I've seen) use spanking because they either don' t know or
don't want to take the time to figure out another solution. How easy would it be
to explain to Rupert (tired of Johnny) that running out in front of a car
could kill you? Why not tell him his body could be come mangled, etc.-why not
give him age/maturity appropriate information? And if you have to do it more
than once, well, there are things that have had to be explained to me more than
once! I just think if we respect our children like we do complete strangers
maybe -well, you get it.

Carol

PS. Amy, if you are ever in the Orlando area, I'll take you up on that
drink.