When my brothers and I were kids, we generally didn't get spanked. Instead, if one of us made a bad choice, my parents would have us sit at the dining room table for "The Talk."
The Talk would consist of my Dad asking us questions - what did you do? Why did you do it? If we didn't have a thorough explanation, Dad would keep us there in the chair until we did. It was like a silent face-off, with my patient and persistent dad winning every time. Then the discussion would move to what the appropriate consequence should be. Maybe we'd get grounded from hanging out with friends, maybe we'd get television time revoked. The Talk could last up to an hour or more, making it seem more painful than the prospect of being spanked.
Now that we're adults, my brothers and I all agree that The Talk was a very effective and unpleasant form of punishment.
The Talk would consist of my Dad asking us questions - what did you do? Why did you do it? If we didn't have a thorough explanation, Dad would keep us there in the chair until we did. It was like a silent face-off, with my patient and persistent dad winning every time. Then the discussion would move to what the appropriate consequence should be. Maybe we'd get grounded from hanging out with friends, maybe we'd get television time revoked. The Talk could last up to an hour or more, making it seem more painful than the prospect of being spanked.
Now that we're adults, my brothers and I all agree that The Talk was a very effective and unpleasant form of punishment.
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