Creative Punishments and Lasting Impressions
It’s no big secret that I wasn’t much of a saint growing up. And while I like to joke at times, saying I was so close it scared me, I know I was a typical kid who drove my parents up the wall.
My parents remember several times of having to punish me and actually feel a little guilty for it. I, on the other hand, remember a couple of times and ironically, they don’t match what my parents remember.
I thought it would be interesting, entertaining and hopefully, insightful to see how others stack up in their childhood memories and what punishments stuck with them, even into adulthood.
I’m looking for that one (or two) punishments that worked. What was it that you did and what was your parents response that made you never want to do that particular deed again?
Those who participate in this exchange will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. I will be using all entries to compile an article on unforgettable punishments at a later time. If you would like to have a link to your blog included in this article, please write the comment from the NAME you want used and include the LINK you want included.
Note: I’m not looking for tales of horror or punishments that hinged on abuse – I’m talking about effective parenting, creative punishments and lasting impressions. The horror stories are for a different topic altogether.
image: stock.xchng
I was a good girl, and for the most part managed to avoid any punishments worse than going to my room for a while. In fact, I don’t even remember being grounded–until just after I turned 17.
My friends and I were at the age where we really couldn’t find anything fun to do that was legal. We stayed up all night and did stupid things like toilet-papering and smoking cloves at the local hangouts.
Well, one Friday night, my best friend and I went to a nearby town to enjoy their homecoming game with a male friend of ours. My friend Jennifer was supposed to be staying the night at my house, but that didn’t happen. We had stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and were so tired we didn’t want to drive home. So, we stayed the night at this boy’s house…and while nothing happened (we were just friends)…all three of us crammed in his bed.
Needless to say, his mother came in the room in the morning and freaked out…which woke us up and freaked us out. She had never met either of us girls up until then. Well, Jen and I went back to my house, to find my parents PO’d and asking why we were gone all night…also to find that Jen’s mom had been calling my house looking for her to find out we hadn’t come home all night.
Oh, brother. I can tell you Jen’s mom didn’t let us get together for about a month after that. I was grounded for the first time in my life. My parents didn’t just ground me and let me live with it–they actually sat me down and explained how disappointed they were in me. I think that’s what straightened me out the most. It was very difficult for me to know that I had let my parents down, and knowing how disappointed I also made my best friend’s mom, it was a punishment I never forgot.
To this day, when my young daughter’s are punished, I be sure to sit down with them when they have calmed down…and tell them exactly why they were punished and how their actions made me feel. I truly believe this is the best way to discipline my children.
(Sorry for the long story, but it was fun to share!)
I just heard a mother talking about a punishment she went through with for her daughter who was always VERY ashamed to be seen with her! This woman is an attractive woman for her age, so I don’t get the big deal…However, I can remember feeling the same way about my parents!LOL! Anyways, her teenager made such a big deal about being seen with HER the the mother decided that SHE would turn the tables! She is now not allowed to go on the family cruise with the rest of her family…And the mother told her it was because SHE was embarrassed to be seen with HER! Talk about a bummer!LOL! Don’t know if I could follow through with it, but it will sure be a memorable lesson for that teenage girl to learn!
Hello, I just wanted to share with you two punishents that have worked for us. I have 2 sons, 10 & 11. For the most part they do get along, but we have had our days and weeks when they are just oil and water. My favorite punishment is make them each write a list of 10 things beautiful about his brother, 10 things he like to do with his brother, 10 things your brother is good at, etc. They have to be complete sentences and at the end they have to read them aloud to each other. I have collected these over the years and can’t wait to make a nice scrapbook. But what the boys hate the worst, and this would be why it has only been done twice, is holding hands. We live in rural Ohio, but on a State Highway (this is NOT a major highway) I do not endanger the lives of my children. But I make them stand out by our apple tree which is 25 yards back from the road but clearly visible, holding hands, waving and smiling at the cars going by. I have threatened to make them hold a sign that says I love my brother, but I have not gone that far. The first time I took pictures (another great scrapbooking moment), but if they complain I add another 5 minutes. This is the most hated punishment, but most effective to just be nice to each other, stop annoying each other on purpose, and just get along.