www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall GOD BLESS THE PARENTS WHO DRUGGED US..

Received this in an email. So true for many of us...

GOD BLESS THE PARENTS WHO DRUGGED US..

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a
Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question.

"Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"

I replied I had a drug problem when I was young:

I was drug to church on Sunday morning.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flowerbeds
and cocklebur's out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us!

How incredibly politically incorrect.

I LOVE IT !

Psychologist probably will not be happy if we suggest that method of child rearing.

Well, they do not need to raise our children.

My firstborn came home from kindergarten the first day and informed me that he could no longer be spanked. He now had the 800 number for the child abuse hotline. So I asked him

1. Do you like living here?
2. Do you like your room?
3. Do you like the meals here?
4. Do you love your mother?
5. Would you be sad if you could never see her again?
6. How about your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins?
7. Do you like your school and your new friends?
8. would you miss them if you never saw them again?

If you call that number, they'll take Dad to jail and take you away to stay with strangers called foster parents. We'll go to court. The judge will ask me about my side of the story. I'll tell him you are incorrigible, that I can't handle you, and that I don't want you back--that they can keep you. And you'll never come home again.

9. Is that what you want?

I spank you once in awhile because I love you. I don't want you to grow up to be a punk. There are plenty of punks around. They aren't going anywhere. You're smart. You can be anything you want to be. I'm here to help you be all that God and you can make you be.

Any questions?

He decided to stay and have the old man guide him

Several years later my daughter came home the first day of kindergarten with the same story. Before I could say anything, my son said, "Dad, I'll take care of this." And I heard the same thing I'd repeated to him.

Son was the valedictorian of his university, CPA, heading for six years with a major accounting firm. Daughter was also an honors gradaute of her university, an accountant, heading for her next promotion after three years with her company.

Enough said?

BOB

AMEN & GLORY TO GOD!

Pani Rose:

In all fairness, I do have to add that after a couple open-handed cracks on the bottom at the age of two, they both got the message that when the old man's voice changed fun was over and it was time to shape up. Never had to do anything more after about five and never had any problem during the rest of the time until and including now.

Best to set the boundaries, stay consistent and fair, be able to admit when you are wrong, and keep the focus on the positive things that they've done.

I knew I'd done something right when I came home one day to overhear my sone telling his friend on the phone, "I don't know about your parents, but my Dad won't tolerate that for one minute." Still don't know what that was all about and didn't figure I needed to ask.

BOB

PS: One night on the way home from university my son told me, "Dad, I admire you for being consistent. You don't care what other people think if you believe you're right and the rest of the world you believe is wrong. You have the guts to stick to your convictions. You're man enough to admit you're wrong and ask for pardon and forgiveness. I admire you more than any other man I know including all of my professors." Good thing he didn't see the tears in the dark.

Wow!

I hope my kids will say that about me some day.

I hope to be consistent and fair.

Bob I know what you mean. My husband was very firm, loving, and disciplined with our kids. Sometimes they didn't always like it, but they are all doing well, and have a wonderful faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I was the wishy washy one not reallly, but you know how mom's are. Kids tug your apron strings and it is hard to say no sometimes. But, I think that was good to, because I balanced out my husband. We will be married 39 years in March - our kids understand that marriage is for life - and it is to wrapped around Christ. So I think, all in all they will be ok. But then - they were kids

Another of my "lines" that consistently came up is, "I'm your father; I'm NOT your friend."

They finally grew up to be able to understand what exactly that meant.

As time went on, our relationships changed, too, and as they showed more maturity and responsibility, I showed them that I could relate to them as an adult--giving them room to make mistakes, backing off and not giving advice when they didn't ask for it, being there as a consultant, and--wow, did this floor them--asking them now for their expertise in areas in which they have excelled. I tell both of them that as accountants their job will be to keep the old man out of jail when income tax time comes around each year.

BOB

Wow, that's like the ultimate kudos a Dad can get!

And I can think of no one that deserves this blessing from God more than Bob...

Alice

My son is a computer expert and he still does not understand that we as parents cannot be jack of all trades. He has his specialty and we have ours.

So, we call on him when our computer breaks down, and we help him in other ways. After all, that is what a family is all about.

Elizabeth Maria:

My two ROFLOL when they hear me say "I'm technologically challenged" and ask them for computer advice. But, hey, at least I'm up front about it, right?

BOB