My parents were a June-December romance
Dad had three other children

This put me in a position of having
Nieces and nephews near my age

My brother’s children were little monsters
Destruction and terror reigned in their lives
Idle threats lingered as punishments

My sister’s children were to be religious zealots
Goodness and love were to control all they did
They never spared the rod

What I learned was that there are extremes
When dealing with children
Hard or soft?

Be too sparing of punishment, and you get a dysfunctional rebel
Too much use of punishment, and you get a dysfunctional rebel
How did mine turn out?

2026