Discipline

It usually takes me three times as long as it should to drive somewhere because I have to pull over so many times. The kids are used to me pulling them out of the car for a "time out" while the rest of us wait inside. There are often people gawking like I'm abusing my children. I'm used to that -- they must not have children, or maybe their children rule the house. Megan and James are not new to the consequence of fighting and screaming in the car by the time we are on our own street. If you've read the book "Love and Logic," you will understand why I stop three houses short of our own and pull the kids out of the car. I don't do it often because I'm afraid my nosy neighbors (one in particular) will report me to CPS. Today was the first time I used this tactic on Isaac. (He and Megan were screaming and hitting each other the whole ride home, a frequent occurrence.) Megan was already at the door before I'd even moved the car because I had a hard time getting Isaac to let go of the handle. By the time I did get to the driveway, with Isaac running behind, a different neighbor was out with their arms folded disapprovingly. Well, I can't say I approve of their parenting style -- what with their grown children constantly dropping off their illegitimate children or crashing there themselves or all of them out drinking beer with their kids running around till past midnight. Why is it bad these days to discipline our children like our own parents did?