The spanking poll revealed exactly as I thought it would. Most people don’t spank their children now a days and some think spanking is child abuse. Still others, think lack of spanking is the reason our younger society seems to be in more trouble and rude.

I don’t want to venture into my personal beliefs, or instigate a debate, but asked this question as a result of an experience I had the other day when I took Toby to a class at the local zoo. There was another little boy, 3 years old like Toby, who had lots of energy, like Toby.

They fiddled with their legs while sitting in circle time. They jumped around during transition time and played rough during play time. When they laughed, it was loud.The teacher would call their name and redirect them. I was sitting in the back with the other parents, and did the same to Toby, threatening him with having me come sit with him during the class if he didn’t stop. He always did for a few minutes, then went onto something else semi-disruptive, along with a few other boys. The girls all sat pristinely quiet.

This one little boy, who was so much like my Toby, was there with his grandfather.

“Boy! If you don’t sit down right now! I’m fixin’ to git me a switch!”

Then he would turn and loudly say to us, “This boy. All he be understandin’ is the language of switch. Hey teacher! Ya’ll got a switch back thar?”

Over and over again, this guy was repeating those same phrases. I was giggling to myself. Not at the fact this kid was going to get a switch, but at how the man talked. For some reason I find deep Southern slang hilarious and usually crack up with my hubby whenever I hear it.

Honestly, I think the man was more bark than bite. The boy didn’t even seem to hear what he was saying. I think the grandfather just didn’t know how to handle the situation and wanted to look like he was doing something.

Two other mothers, though, looked like they were ready to dial children and family services at any moment. They were appalled! And equally disturbing as the 3 distracting boys, as they discussed the horribleness of spanking, and the prestige of their daughter’s cheerleading over their ringing cell phones.

It was like a three ring circus. Fidgety kids, funny old man, and snotty mothers. I just counted the minuted to be out of there!

This week’s poll is based on my sheer curiosity. Are you online as much as me? I have been tied to my computer quite a bit lately. Between my blog, 2 different social networking sites, twitter, searching and writing freelance articles, and applying for jobs, it seems like my every waking non-controlled kid moment is spent online!

Share This

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!