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I'm sure everyone has had the
unforgettable experience of being in a grocery store, or someplace like that,
and witnessing a young child perform his best Academy Award winning temper
tantrum. But did you ever stick around to see what happened after the show? 9
times out of 10 the spoiled little brat gets exactly what he wants. Never
mind the fact that mother said `no' a thousand times, he kept the pressure on
until she finally cracked and let him have whatever it was his little heart
desired.
You ever wonder why things like that go on? Or wonder what causes little
children to act that way? Its quite simple really, the parents ask for it!
Give kids a little credit, they might be naive but they aren't stupid. They
very quickly pick up on the fact that you will give in to their demands if
they bother you enough or if they kick and scream violently enough.
What's the solution? Stop rewarding them for being bad, which is exactly what
you are doing when you let them have what they want after they throw a fit.
They should be punished and made to understand that their behavior is wrong
and will not be tolerated. If the parents don't nip this in the bud they will
find that as the child grows older he still expects to get whatever he wants.
The problem with this is that the child will grow into an adult who has no
sense of self control or self discipline. He will still feel that he should
get whatever he wants, and be allowed to do whatever he desires. This can
lead to big trouble. He will see no reason why he cannot engage in premarital
sex, drug or alcohol abuse, criminal activity, and such like if he so
desires. And he will see no reason to bother serving God unless it is
convenient for him.
While many children who are raised without sufficient discipline may not go
as far as drug abuse and criminal activity, they will nonetheless tend to
have a lot more problems in adolescence and adulthood. A little observation
of children as they grow up will show that those who are from homes where
good discipline is practiced consistently will usually give their
parents very few problems as teenagers and will be good, honest, hardworking,
moral adults. Conversely, children from homes where discipline is lax or
inconsistent will tend to get into a lot of trouble as teenagers and often
continue this into adulthood.
The truth of Solomon's words should never be doubted. "The rod and
reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."
(Pro 29:15) If a child is not given the proper direction from a very young
age it is seldom that his parents will be proud of the way he turns out.
Discipline is never fun for the child or the parent. But anyone who takes on
the responsibility of bringing a life into this world must also take on the
responsibility to direct and shape that life properly. "He who spares
the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him."
(Pro 13:24 RSV)
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