Does Disappointment Equal Discipline?
Recently, my 5 year old son cut my 22 month old daughter’s beautiful curly hair to the point where we had to get her a short haircut and the curls are now all gone. I was obviously disappointed. I showed this disappointment clearly and for days he has had to endure the comments from both myself and others about this disappointment.
I can remember as a child doing things that disappointed my parents, and they like I did recently showed their disappointment in me. I don’t recall whether or not they used another form of punishment to discipline me or not, however the very fact that I remember their disappointment says a great deal about how it affected me. Therefore, I feel that showing your child your disappointment can be a form of effective punishment.
I feel that it has been a form of punishment for my son and I am quite certain it was an effective punishment for myself as a child, as I still remember it so vividly. Sure, there are other forms of punishment that are effective, but sometimes just being real and honest with your feelings can be a form of punishment and an effective one in itself.
What are some ways that you punish your child? Do you show your feelings about their behaviors? Do you believe that disappointment shown to your child as a result of their behavior can be an effective form of punishment?
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