Am I spoiling my youngest children?
Question:
I am nearly sixty and a widower. My wife gave birth early to a set of twins, but she didn't survive the delivery. I was left with children ranging from 10 years of age to sickly premeies. The twins survived and will be 13 soon. They are intelligent; spoiled brats to be honest! I am pro-discipline and never spared the rod with my older children, but these are my babies. I can't bear to lift a finger to them. My older children have really stepped up to the plate, caring for them, but keep threatening to stop if they don't start minding. I say I am more mellow now; however, I see them answering back, cursing, and breaking curfew. They love to brawl with each other and were injured when they got too close to a window. What am I suppose to do?
Answer:
"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Proverbs 13:24).
You aren't a disciplinarian because you would not have spoiled brats as children. That you've waited this long to even question why you are letting your children run wild is a puzzle. There are aspects of this note which strike me as being dishonest. There are claims being made that are in conflict. Clearly you aren't concerned about their welfare nor do you care about your fellow man when you are willing to inflict these two on the rest of the world without restraint. It also appears odd that it is your children and not you who are caring for your own children. What father turns the raising of his kids over to kids?
"If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons" (Hebrews 12:9-10).
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
Personally, I think this note is fake, but I posted it solely to discuss some important points about parenting.
