Here we go again. This time I’m coming at you with the real Rebecca. By that I mean, my unbridled truth. I will let you know my truth won’t necessarily be yours, and I can respect that.
I truly believe some of our young people will not be the way they are if government had not gotten into people’s homes. By that I mean, if parents were still able to take their children to the preverbal woodshed. Yes, I mean tear their tails up. The ones of you who are appalled, talk to some of us 50s, 60s, 70s babies. Even the Bible says in Proverbs 23:13 “withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” (Spare the rod, spoil the child). Yeap! Most of our parents didn’t play with us. Some of us, especially me, will tell you I appreciated all of my woodshed days. They made most of us who we are. Now by that I mean, a person with respect for ourselves as well as others, integrity, work ethic and morals.
You see I was a daddy’s girl, so I was okay with him, but my mom was one of those moms who whooped your butt and talked while she did it. Then she had the audacity to tell you, “you better not cry” or “fix your face.” The best one was “say it.” Like she knew we were talking about her in our heads, which we were. Out of all of that, Golden Triangle Area readers, I’m thankful. I’m thankful I had parents who loved their children enough to discipline us and love us at the same time. Hopefully by now my two daughters are thankful, and my grandchildren are getting there.
The reason I’m writing this is because as I look around. I see children as young as 3 and 4 years old running around with no discipline or any correction. It is amazing the vocabulary of a 5 or 6 year old. While some laugh and think it’s cute, they fail to realize these are some of the children that will grow up and be our leaders. I realize some will read this and think I’m old fashioned, but I say to you, old fashioned worked for most of my generation, and we turned out pretty decent, and it will work for this generation if it is applied. Parents please talk to and correct your children.
Rebecca Gibson, West Point
