Advantages In Being A Sturdy Disciplinarian

When I was raising my kids, my middle sister used to emphasize that "love must be tough ". She was a follower of James C. Dobson, Ph.D., founder of Focus on the Family; a nonprofit organization that produces his internationally syndicated radio programs; author of themes directed to "love must be tough ". I now recommend his wisdoms.

Being a sturdy discipliner has advantages that without love it could turn into an abusive situation. Not everyone has shown control of their attitudes when they are assuming a position that will guarantee an acceptable behavior.

I have found out that when I have a way of doing something and somebody wants to make me do it their way...I do it wrong. Some ways are good for some people and not everybody has the ability, heart, dedication or interest in doing things other than they know or just want to do them.

I do not have grandchildren, but two of my kids have pets like their own children. That means that they are like my grandchildren also. The picture of the dog is one of them.

I admire my daughter that has become a sturdy disciplinarian working with a veterinarian. She loves animals and has learned that "love must be tough ".

Discipline is a systematic instruction used to teach. Punishment is a strategy used in extreme cases, it is not discipline; neither is using strategies such as: screams, hitting or mistreating just because a behavior is bothering us. Discipline should focus on good benefits and welfare of everybody.

It is through discipline and being a sturdy discipliner that people or pets can act purposefully to achieve compliant goals and objectives. This is why my daughter put an Elizabethan collar or cone around her dog since it was chewing up the stitches. She has to appeal to different strategies for modification of harmful behavior.

A clear example of this is seen in athletes, who after long days of hard preparation achieve good results in competitions. The discipline in this case concerns not only the daily training of the sport in question, but also carries a strict diet, a special health care and welfare.

One of the first aspects to consider when discipline is: the understanding of diversity (not everybody is the same way) and that no harm should be offered to the spirit, soul or body.

• Demonstrate that you understand and accept the reason of the behavior, which in your opinion, needs discipline.
• Set firm limits and regulation needed having in mind that they ought to be flexible; this is in case they need to be changed for some justifiable reason.
• Spend much time with them. Sharing is the way we get to know living nature.
• Smiling, touching, caressing, kissing, hugging, etc., should never be left aside.

This is a deep theme, but I just wanted to contribute a drop in the ocean of education; and it is because we all need discipline one way or the other.

Blessings to all!

© Maria Magdalena Ruiz O'Farrill