Blog 201: Whip That Butt

 

By Rufus L. and Anthony E. McGhee

Guest writers

Whippings are not new.  Whippings have been a parenting tool since the beginning of mankind.  The occasional whipping is not child abuse!!!  I got whippings; my children got whippings; and my granddaughter gets whippings and we are all productive and positive members of our communities today.   Yes, they hurt but remember – no pain no gain.    

Whippings are a form of punishment that gets the child’s immediate attention.  Whippings are memorable in that when the wrong behavior/action is exhibited, the child remembers the whipping previously received and usually does not enter into that behavior/action again. 

Whippings are a tool to promote positive behavior.  Children remember whippings and not the ‘time-out’ vacations where they get to rest and relax sometimes with the iPhone or laptop.  Whippings, a parent’s tool, are the penalties paid for bad decisions/actions.  ‘Time-outs’, a friend’s tool, are toy penalties that last only for the moment.

Parents are for life.  Friends are for a season.  Parents have the responsibility to nurture and build character in their children.   Whippings are one of the tools used by parents to accomplish this Godly task.  “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)  

Doing a child’s formative years, friends will not be the child’s constant caregiver – a parent will; friends will not be the child’s constant provider – parents will; friends will not always teach the child right from wrong – a parent will and should; friends cannot and should not whip the child – a parent will and should.

It’s time to get back to basics and return to implementing the saying “spare the rod and spoil the child” theory.  A whipping every now and then will do the child good.  It will reinforce the concept that negative behavior/actions will not be tolerated while emphasizing positive behavior/action expectations.   

Tell those ‘authoritarian’ ‘know-it-alls’ of today that you are the parent and know what is best for your child.  Punish when appropriate, excuse behavior/actions when appropriate, overlook behavior/actions when appropriate, whip when appropriate, and above all be the parent always.  Whippings benefitted me; they benefitted my children; and they are benefitting my granddaughter.