Is it a sin to be upset with kids and puppies?

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Rico

I wouldn't say you are doing anything wrong. Mommy is the primary care giver, so it's only natural for him to gravitate towards her. Eventually he will figure out which parent says "Yes" the easiest and he will go to that parent for permission to do the things he wants to do. Kids can be pretty sneaky that way.


As for whippin your kids, this is my advice. Believe me when I tell you that it took me several years of being a parent before I learned this. Children need to understand that what they did would be wrong before they did it, in order for me to really punish them for it. I remember I was giving my son a whippin for something, he looked at me while it was happening, and it dawned on me he really didn't understand that what he had done was wrong. I bet I cried more over having spanked him that day than he did for getting the spanking. It really changed my approach to disciplining my children.

I am not picking on you with what I am about to say, Brother Eastman, but there is no way I would give a 15 month old a spanking for what he did to your wallet. He only did what comes naturally to a child of his age. Right now he's learning by using all of his senses, and sticking something in his mouth is one of the main ways he learns. He had no concept of the value of the wallet or its contents. Nor did he understand that he isn't supposed to touch it. He just saw something within his reach and he wanted to investigate it. So, he took everything out of his new toy and proceeded to taste it and chew on it. Perfectly normal behaviour for a 15 month old. If he were 5 and had done it, then I could see him getting some form of discipline over it. Five year olds have the capacity to know not to touch Daddy's wallet. So, what I am saying is that I believe it's imperative to take into account a child's intent and his ability to understand that what he is doing is wrong before a whipping is in order. Just some hard earned advice. I think back now to some of the spankings I have given my son and oldest daughter and wish I could go back and do it differently than I did.

Well, I didn't spank him for getting into my wallet, but I was pretty miffed about it.