Quote:
But it never occurred to her to do anything other than spank.
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This is how punishing actually
handicaps us as parents instead of empowering us--especially the one-response-to-everything brand of punishing promoted by Ezzo, Pearl, Tripp, and Dobson.
I've been there, too. When I dropped spanking, I felt so stumped... so powerless... so bewildered.. so I started punishing in different ways.
Then I tried to stop punishing and found I was using "gentle" tools with the same punitive goal in mind.
I am reading Clay Clarkson's Heartfelt Discipline right now, and am so moved by his discussion of parenting by the Spirit's leading instead of by a formula--ANY formula.
(((( TulipMama )))) God's grace is utterly amazing, isn't it? I am inspired by all of our stories to think that He can change, heal, and redirect other families just as He has done with ours.