I am not Dr. Spock

First of all, I am not Dr. Spock. An infrequent swat on the butt does not constitute child abuse; it is a very effective attention getter. Children are CHILDREN, not little adults. They know NOTHING, have no wisdom, and need education about life (which is NOT fair), discipline, but above all love.

I believe in children. They are my favorite people. I believe children should be allowed to BE children. Several years ago, while eating out, at a nearby table there was a mother, grandparents, and a boy around three years old. He was put into a high chair and was quiet, until he asked, "Mother, may I interrupt now?" That sent shivers down my spine. It reminded me of a four-year-old boy in Boston whose psycholgist father strapped him into his crib every night. Yes, he was still in a crib and he wasn't small. When I inquired, this jerk told me it was the only way to keep him in bed.

Children are born to be loved. How can anyone not love a precious, helpless, innocent angel? And yet, all over the world too many children are born into neglect, abuse, molestation, and hatred. It is appalling, abhorrent, and should not be acceptable to anyone, let alone nations that allow it to continue.

I believe wholeheartedly with all my being that if a mother who does not want a child, who cannot take care of a child, and who will not love a child selflessly should not have a child. If a child has two parents, one of them should stay home with the child until he/she is at least three years old. Those are the most important years of a child's life, when nuturing means EVERYTHING!