Discipline Is Not the Same as Cruelty

I have seen a lot of content online where strangers rebuke parents over what happens between them, their children, and other passengers in commercial vehicles.

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A recent video I watched was about a lady who was traveling in a commercial bus. She was eating roasted corn when a little girl sitting nearby kept staring at her and salivating over the corn. The lady eventually became uncomfortable because the child wouldn’t stop looking at her food, while the girl’s mother watched the entire scene and did nothing to correct her.

If I were that parent, I would immediately correct my child. A child should be taught that staring at strangers while they are eating is rude.

Sadly, some parents think being firm with their children will hurt their feelings, without considering the long-term consequences of allowing bad habits to go unchecked.

I remember years ago when I was traveling with my late mum in a commercial vehicle. A woman who was eating buns was friendly to me and even offered me some. I politely declined. She asked if it was because of my mum that I refused, and my mum told me to collect it. But while saying “collect it,” she gently pinched me, and I immediately understood what she really meant. (To be honest, I wasn’t planning to collect it anyway!)

Back then, our parents didn’t always need many words. Sometimes, just a look was enough for us to understand what was expected. Many people today may see that style of parenting as too strict, but one thing is certain: it taught us respect, self-control, and boundaries.

I am not saying parents should be harsh with their children, far from it. But there is a difference between being loving and refusing to correct bad behavior. Children need guidance. They need to know what is acceptable and what isn’t.

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Parents who constantly make excuses for their children’s poor behavior, especially toward strangers, are not doing those children any favors. If a child displays bad manners, it should be corrected promptly and appropriately at home instead of leaving strangers to do the job for you.

Good parenting is about balance. Praise children when they do the right thing, and correct them when they do the wrong thing. Encouragement and discipline work together. You cannot neglect one and expect the other to produce responsible adults.

Our goal should not just be to raise children who are useful to society, but children who will also grow into responsible, respectful, and disciplined adults for their own good.

Spare the rod today, and the child may one day use the rod on you, not necessarily literally, but through the consequences of a life without discipline.

It is good to love your children, but don’t mistake refusing to correct bad behavior for love. Real love teaches, guides, corrects, and sets boundaries. Children are most teachable when they are young, and the lessons they learn early often shape the adults they become.

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