Louise Bremner <dame_zumari@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Eric Takabayashi <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote:

>> And guess what? I didn't abuse my babies for being babies or for keeping me
>> awake or taking from what used to be my free time, or for costing me money
>> when they lose, damage or destroy their toys or my personal belongings. No
>> raised voices merely because I lost my temper, no beating, shaking, throwing
>> or hitting with objects for any reason. No depriving them of meals or
>> putting them outside or in the closet. Yes, I spanked on rare occasion when
>> they were toddlers, but only to get their attention, and not to make them
>> cry, for example, when they were hurting each other having a biting
>> argument. They soon stopped that behavior and so did I. My most serious
>> punishment to date was a few weeks they had to go without ice cream. That
>> happened once. Now the simple threat of being sent alone to another room to
>> play or read alone to keep them from fighting or being too rambunctious is
>> sufficient. And recently, if they fight over a toy, it gets taken away,
>> which also is effective. Haven't had to carry out on a threat of one day
>> without watching Pokemon yet.

> You saint....

Not really; most of it is common sense. If whatever punishments you mete
out are applied consistantly, and not out of spite or because you're in
a bad mood, kids respond pretty well.  And  if I need to take it out
on anything, my good friends at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu school are more
than happy to see me show up an extra day in a given week.

Mike