by Miss Kat

Created on: December 07, 2008

Have you ever witnessed a child throwing a horrific tantrum? Whether it be out in public or perhaps a friend's child, maybe even a close relative you were visitng? I remember when I would witness what I would call these little "demon children" at restaurants or the grocery store kicking and screaming! It would irritate me so bad that I simply had to leave.

In all honesty, it wasn't always the child that sent my blood boiling, it was the way the parents would discipline them. There were the parents who ignored the child and continued shopping or doing whatever it was they were there to do, the parent that would yell and totally embarrass the child when it was obvious where they got all their screaming and yelling from, and then there was the parent who bent down to their child's eye level and told them in a quiet and calm voice to, "Please stop or else it's time out". Personally, I couldn't stand any of it. One parent was always too mean and the other was always too nice. They obviously didn't know the "right way" to discipline their children! Boy was I in for a rude awakening because fast-forward a few years later and I too realized that the perfect discipline strategy for children didn't exist, not even a strategy for my own!

No matter what a anyone tells you, even if that person has had one hundred children, it is obvious that there is, nor will there ever be, the perfect way to discipline a child. The perfect way is a myth. It doesn't exist! However, I feel a parent must do what they feel is right and what they feel suits them. I would never condone harming a child in any way, shape or form. Not mentally or physically because we as parents have an obligation to our children to both love them and also to teach them.

The best advice I could give to any parents out there is simply, do what's best for you and your child. Do what works, as long as there is no physical or mental harm involved. Children will be children and they will have moments where even you as a parent will not be able to get through to them during their moment of anger and frustration. Rest assured, however, in knowing that not one single parent out there has the perfect solution or the perfect remedy on how to discipline a child. The only person who knows the best way to discipline a child is the parent of that particular child and no one else. I'm still learning myself and trust me, it isn't easy, but one day I know I'll look back at my daughter's days of tantrum throwing and laugh because I'll remember how hard it was, but oh so worth it.

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