Discipline instilled in children can take many forms. What is an endearing way your parents would do this to you for minor discrepencies in your childhood?

After years of therapy I can now calmly say- not much

My mom did know how to use the ‘I’m disappointed in you’ very well. Worked better than any spanking in the world.

@gemiwing It’s all in the look. Mothers’ have this inate ability to say exactly what they mean with one long, cold, hard stare. Had me scurrying for cover that’s for sure.

Discrepencies? Really? Like one arm shorter than the other?

@ucme I shudder just thinking about The Look.

@6rant6 Yes,really & no.

Wooden spoons. A favourite instrument of terror with my parents. Upon one occasion my mother was chasing me with one, at which point I ran to the kitchen and got 2 more wooden spoons from the drawer.

I had foiled her plans.

Upon another occasion, except my father being the spoon-wielding child-abuser, I ran to my room to get a baseball bat instead.

They dare not try to defeat me nowadays.

I remember the wooden spoon. It wasn’t all that effective really (no bare butts in our conservative household). It stopped after I started laughing during a spanking – why, I don’t remember – the wooden spoon split down the middle and the spanking continued, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

@6rant6 I think it was more the fear of it occurring than the pain itself. Especially since one time they took a swing with it, missed, and it shattered on a wall. And laughter is always incredibly effective.

Something would go wrong, and I would say “I’m sorry,” just like they teach you to do. Mom would have none of it. “Sorry didn’t do it!” she’d proclaim. I always wondered what people meant by that.

My mom would give us her “death glare”. Really, it sent a chill down your spine. You knew you better act right or she was gonna getcha. She is a small woman. I was taller than her in the fifth grade. But she could make you mind without ever touching you. She was an awesome mother. I wish I was half as good as her! But what gets me is she hates to see me and my sister get on our own kids! We laugh at her and remind her how she kept us in line.

My mom would explain the logic of making a better choice in such a way that I would look at what I had done with a humorous laugh at myself thinking.. my.. that really was a bad choice wasn’t it?