Lunch Will Be Served When the Math Lesson Is Finished

My daughter was recently describing this process to a middle-school-aged friend who was curious as to how a mom could possibly hold any meaningful authority over her student. When my daughter explained how we had used the incentive of “get done early, get lunch early; take extra time, wait for lunch until after the lesson is done,” the friend stated rather emphatically that that process simply would not work with her — she would just get her own food. “No, you don’t get it,” my daughter replied. “You’re not allowed any food until the lesson gets done.” The surprised friend humbly stated, “Wow. That would work.”

My point is simple: Mom as a teacher has a power unavailable to our government school counterparts: discipline. We can restrict privileges or inflict discipline as needed to enforce our authority. That was removed long ago from the government school system, and we have all witnessed the sad results. Since we are the parents of our own students, we know exactly what “punishment” will give the most effective results, and there are occasionally times when punishment is the only recourse for us to inspire a student. Lest you think me to be an incredible tyrant and unfit mother, let me also say that, much more often than threatening to delay lunch, I told my voracious reader that she was not allowed to read any longer this night, and the light must go out now. Moms, you are free to use the discipline that will produce the best results.