Pain
I spanked Anne tonight. All she wanted was her mother. All her mother needed was some sleep. I was able to give neither.
She stopped crying and thrashing around, and went dead silent. Then she touched her bottom with her hand, looked at me and said, “Pain”. She did not cry.
I did.
Anne, I’m so sorry.
Update: Dearest Anne, later on in the night Mommy accidentally poked my eye. You got out of Mommy’s comfortable arms, stood up and kissed my eye then plonked back as you were.
Sweetest girl, in that one moment you have shown so much more character than most people, including myself, have in a lifetime.
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Hey there,
It is exasperating at such times, we know. You want to provide the best of both worlds, to Faith and Anne.
You didn't mean it. You just chose the easier way out.
What is remarkable of you is, your courage to admit that it is wrong of you to hit her. And for that, you have done great! Adults sometimes don't really apologise for things that they have done wrong. And even if they do, it might be done half heartedly. You have done what the many wouldn't do. Something worth learning from you! =)
God bless and take care eh! =) Smile.
Such a tender loving post Lucian.
I know how it feels being a father of a very boisterous and gregarious three-year old boy.
What we do though is to use a firm and assertive voice in reprimanding him and warning him when he crosses the line. Normally, he will know how to back off thereafter.
I did spank my girl before as well & thats really how it felt too. My wife gave me a challenge a few months back & thats to let my girls want me more than her or at least i must be able to replace her when she surrenders. I'm still working on it, but i think daddys can never replace mommys.
This poignant event of yours brings back memories for me as well. We have so much to learn from our toddlers: they forgive so easily, give us love unconditionally and never bear a grudge.