The Cold Hard Floor

The Cold Hard Floor 

One of my little friends was telling me about her baby brother.  It seems he had reached the age, all of three, when he now had to take responsibility for his actions. 

“Now he has to take the consequences when he breaks the rules,” she said. 

“Oh,” I said, “what does that mean?” 

“Well, the last time, he had to sit on the cold, hard floor,” and here she paused dramatically, “with Mommy and talk about what he had done.”

Wow, I thought, what a consequence. Having to sit down and discuss how and why he broke the rules, and on the cold hard floor. Now, I know this child’s home and the cold hard floor is actually a very nice hardwood floor in a lovely playroom loaded with toys. Hardly the prison floor one imagines. And I know this Mommy, who has very well thought out and consistent rules. And I know this baby brother. He needs a lot of reiteration and discussion of rules. So the punishment definitely fit the crime.

           

What struck me most about this report was the part where Mommy sat on the floor with our little culprit. Mommy was right down there on that cold hard floor. Mommy needed to be there, you know, because Mommy not only set the rules but also is responsible for the following of those rules. Mommy has to take the consequences for baby brother’s actions too.     

           

Let’s say that baby brother, let’s call him B.B. from now on, didn’t follow the rules. Let’s say that Mommy let B.B. forget the rules and follow his inclinations. B.B. would not be a very welcome student or friend in the future. Parental discipline is an important building block for self-discipline which is the cornerstone of success in life. 

Should B.B. continue on his merry rule-flaunting ways, he will suffer; all around him will suffer, Mommy and Daddy most of all. I have heard it said that while parents cannot be responsible for their children, they are responsible to their children. This means that it is a parent’s job to teach, guide and correct so that the child knows right from wrong and does take the responsibility for his or her actions. This means sitting down on the cold hard floor with them.

A parenting proverb states, “Discipline doesn’t break a child’s spirit half as often as the lack of it breaks a parent’s heart.” Mommy had to be there on the floor so she will be there when B.B. stands tall and proud after achieving goals for which he has worked hard. Mommy will be there when others compliment him on his good manners. Mommy will be there when he thanks her for doing such a great job rearing him, teaching him the rules so that he could grow up and be someone.

Mommy will be there when he sits down on the floor with his children and teaches them the rules. And Mommy won’t think that floor was cold or hard at all because her heart will be warm.