While relaxing at the beach, I could not help but overhear snippets of interactions from a very nice looking family not too far from us. Here is teaching at it’s best—seeing and hearing from an objective perspective—this time it was what NOT to do.
Here are a few disjointed pieces of overheard dialogue:
Mom (to her maybe 5 yr. old son): “Come on, you’re going in the water.”
Son (crying): “No, I don’t want to.”
Mom: “Are you going to make me pour a bucket of water over you? Stop that whining. One more minute and that bathing suit comes off and I’m going to spank your bottom.”
She asked him to do something and he refused.
Mom: “Well then if you don’t do what I want, I won’t do what you want. I’m not giving you any Cheez-its.” To the others, tauntingly, “Who wants Cheez-its. They’re so good.” To her son, who says he wants some, “No, you can’t have any.”
Mom (taking a picture of him), “Open your eyes, butthead.”