My own mother, a woman celebrated for her kindness and integrity, always believed in addressing issues with grace, even within the privacy of our home. Public displays of condemnation were simply not her way. Her passing was met with genuine respect, a testament to the way she navigated the world.
This memory stands in stark contrast to a disturbing incident I recently witnessed involving a friend's mother and her son. What began as a minor transgression, the boy offering a guest swimming pool water to wash their hands, escalated into a shocking display of uncontrolled anger and brutality. The mother, consumed by her annoyance, unleashed a torrent of physical punishment, seemingly oblivious to the potential consequences.
The result of this rage was horrifying: the boy's arm was broken. In that moment, reason and parental responsibility were utterly abandoned. While the child's action was undoubtedly inappropriate and required correction, the response was exponentially disproportionate and inflicted serious harm. To inflict such an injury on a child is not discipline; it is violence. It's crucial to acknowledge that while certain cultures or religious beliefs may historically or currently accept corporal punishment, there is a fundamental principle that transcends these norms: the prohibition of causing long-term physical injury to a child. The vulnerability of a child's developing body makes such actions particularly egregious.
Discipline, at its core, should be about guidance, teaching, and fostering understanding. It should stem from a place of love and a desire to nurture growth, not from uncontrolled anger and a need to inflict pain. When discipline crosses the line into physical abuse, resulting in injuries like a broken arm, it becomes a clear indicator of a profound failure in parenting. Such actions are not only harmful but, in many countries, are also illegal.
To react with such violence to a child's mistake is not a demonstration of authority but rather a display of a lack of emotional regulation and sound judgment. It erodes trust, instills fear, and leaves lasting physical and emotional scars. True strength in parenting lies in the ability to guide and correct with love and reason, ensuring the child learns without suffering irreparable harm. Anything less is, indeed, the height of foolishness. You are the king of foolishness if you continuously create scars or traumatic experience just to affect a child.
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