Sharpe's Opinion

When your child is 15, it’s too late to teach them respect

Miss Snuffleupagus answers an email and does an excellent job of explaining why the early years are the most important for discipline and respect in children. I only disagree with one passage:

I’m guessing that Worried never hit his child when he was younger. I think he should have – every time his son stepped out of line – if only to show him who was in control.

I have no principled objection to smacking, and I definitely agree that it’s important to have a clear understanding of where the control is, I just think it’s the most unimaginative and unfocused punishment about. It’s like in Kung Fu: if you have to smack, you have already lost.