From a mother’s point of view, discipline matters. I learned early on that to be too lenient with children does not pay off. Being a stay-at-home mom with four kids , I ran a tight ship.
Once the girls were older they were generally better behaved, but the boys had to learn that Mom meant business. What is more, when they came back from visiting their father, they were particularly unruly – no wonder, as he spoiled them rotten.
I particularly remember a time when both boys were taken over my knee to have the wooden spoon. They were told repeatedly that drawing on the walls is unacceptable, no matter how artistic they might be feeling. Both boys are quite gifted and I think their high intelligence was partly the reason they were so mischievous when they were little – they got bored too easily for their own good.
Anyway, on this particular occasion, I was helping my eldest daughter Chrissie with her homework. I noticed the boys were being awfully quiet, so I asked my other daughter, Stephie, to go check on them. Presently, a gasp came from the other room and Stephie yelled: “Mom! They’re drawing on the wall – in crayon!”