You just haaaad to bring that one up, didn't you. That's a lost word that I'd be delighted if it were never found (on the other hand, maybe we shouldn't have lost it and we wouldn't have so many problems . . . nahhhh, I'm glad its lost).

 

Didn't think anyone would remember that one. Leave it to the queen of the Southern Belles. We had to pick our own from the tree and heaven help us if we brought back one that was too small. And why didn't those trees ever die, as many as I had to pick? Funny stuff.

 

Yep. Same here. I can remember when I was very small that up being told I had to go "break off a limb" to get my whipping with, that I would immediately lose control of my bladder from the fear. Then I had a mess to clean up. I swore I'd never do anything like that to my kids . . . and I didn't. I don't even do anything like that to my dogs. However, I'm sure the punishment that my parents endured from their parents was probably even more strict, etc., etc. and I have a great time/relationship with my mom. Dad died 11 years ago and we had a wonderful relationship too. I still miss him. He was my sportscar riding pal.

 

That's why we relate on such a great level; we're twins!

Still thinking of lost words.

"two bits"
"lard"
"mixmaster"
"fountain pen"
"typewriter ribbon"

 

I remember being in VA and hearing a mother telling her child to "got get a swtich." I was over that one.

While we might have gotten a bit of MILD spanking as kids, usually the THREAT of it was enough to keep us in line. It is strange how different areas, different cultures deal with the disciplining of children.

 

It wasn't just a Va. thing, it was a generational thing. Many, many kids got it a lot worse than we did and the whippings weren't very frequent (mostly because we learned from the few we got). We got whippings, but it was on the rear end and since we were jumping around to get away, on the legs. Other kids got popped in the face, on the head and across their backs with razor straps (another lost word) and anything nearby. I consider myself fortunate. Bill Cosby did a comedy routine that was hilarious about having to go get a switch for his whipping. I chuckle even thinking about it.

 

My father had a belt that was split at the end. He used to threaten to give us a "taste of the strap." I don't know that he ever had to though. We were sufficiently at the sight of it, and would promise never to be bad again. And you are right, Val. Earlier generations were more likely to use corporal punishment, but I think different areas had different means of delivering it.

Now the "time out" punishment is used and kids are told "I'm sorry, honey, that is unacceptable behavior." Not sure how well that works, I've seen some real bratty kids in the last several years.

 

Val's right, we learned quickly (well some of us did) how to avoid even the threat of the switch. In fact, the threat was so powerful, when we were out in public and even thought about acting up, all mama had to do was raise her eyebrows and we snapped to post haste. Therefore, it drives me crazy and I can't even comprehend seeing kids stretched out on the floor in the candy aisle having a temper tantrum in the grocery store because their mom won't let them have any candy. Sometimes, I'll give them that same look and they'll stop dead in their tracks and run grab their mom's leg. It worked on my kids and they never misbehaved in public when I was around. Funny how times change.