Fast, temporary relief for minor childhood discipline problems
One problem with distraction can be that it chooses peace over truth. It’s a technique to trick the child into doing what you want, or not doing what you want, but it has no permanent teaching value.
What is the place of peace in our homes? Is it an absolute; that is, more important than truth or righteousness or growth or development? Or is it part of all those other things? Jesus said, “I came not to bring peace but a sword.” But they called him the Prince of Peace, who didn’t fight back even when he was arrested. He apparently thought that peace would result from all his controversial trouble-making.
If all you want is peace, forget distraction. Try laudanum.
Laudanum was a tincture of opium that was sometimes used to quiet babies. In the 1880’s, it was advertised for that purpose in Harper’s Weekly. A nifty invention of the Industrial Revolution: peace through science. Any other means to quiet a baby might kill him. But this was a scientific method that did just what it was supposed to do, when used as directed. In larger doses, of course, it was fatal. The long-term effect were not apparent, but in the short term, it really kept those kids quiet.
How do you keep your kids quiet? What are the long term effects of your techniques?
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