So tell me what you think. Yesterday morning was crazy, we got up late and scrambled to get food in at least Christian before getting him to school. Jake comes up to me (when I was in the middle of something) and says, "Mom, I unlocked the van for you." To which I promptly responded, "Jakob. Thank you for trying to help, but that isn't something you are supposed to do. OK?" Then I went on to getting everyone ready and out the door. What do you suppose happens next? You have probably already guessed. I walk by the open front door and see my VAN on the opposite side of the cul-de-sac. Yes, not in the driveway like I parked it the night before. And who do you think did this? Again, yes, you guessed it, Jakob. I yell out the door and, with Isaac in my arms, only one shoe on, walk quickly across the street. As I am getting to the van, Jakob is hysterically getting out of the drivers seat, tears streaming down his face, saying, "Mom, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that... I am so sorry!" I growl for him to just get in the van and buckle. I buckle Isaac in, start the van and drive it back into the driveway. After getting Christian and getting him to school (which he was late for), Jakob and I had a talk. He had started the van, put it into either Reverse or Neutral and backed it out of the driveway. Somehow he had managed to stop it before hitting anything or anyone, and then turned it off, which is where I came in. I proceeded to explain to him that he could have killed someone, including himself, hit another car, house, etc. He was very serious, listening (for once) to every word. I said that he wasn't allowed to do that and would lose the priviledge of unlocking the house for at least 2 weeks. I decided to not spank him only due to the fact that he was hysterical and scared beyond everything. He knew what he did was wrong and regretted every moment of it.
So here is my question: Should I have spanked him anyway? At the time I didn't think so, but of course hind sight is 20/20... What do you think?
2 comments:
i think you did just the right thing jill! i think you can sometimes tell by their reaction that the lesson has been learned, and it sounds like he learned it... phew!!
I agree - better let his reaction have the effect than your reaction. Great job! And thanks for learning this lesson for me! Hopefully this exact thing wont happen to me - I am sure something else will though...
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