25 May

The old perennial! I'm with DH Lawrence on this one, we intellectualise child raising far too much: "Why are we so afraid of anger, of wrath, and clean, fierce rage? What cowardice possess us? Why would we reduce a child to a nervous, irritable wreck, rather than spank it wholesomely? Why do we make such a fuss about a row? A row, a fierce storm in a family is a natural and healthy thing...We ought all to fight: husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers and friends, all ought to fight, fiercely, freely, openly; and they ought to enjoy it. It stiffens the backbone and makes the eyes flash...We must be after them (children), fiercely, sharpen and chasten their movements, their bearing, their walk. If a boy slouches out of a door, throw a book at him, like lightning. That will make him jump into keen and handsome alertness. And if a girl comes creeping, whining in, seize her by her pigtail and run her out again, full speed. That will bring the fire to her eyes and the poise to her head: if she's got any fire in her; and if she hasn't, why, give her a good knock to see if you can drive some in."