Almost a year ago, I taught my son to punch. I'm the only person he is permitted to punch, which he understands very well. It is like a game between the two of us.
He'll be three years old in February, and it surprises me how hard he can hit. It won't be long, I think, before he gives me a fat lip.
It was about two months ago that I began teaching him to close his fist very tightly, because his punches were hard enough that I began worrying he'd hurt his hand.
I am certain he could take down a four-year-old.
Am I crazy to teach him this? Someone told me I will have real trouble when he gets to school age and starts hitting other kids. That, to me, is nonsense. I know a three-year-old who hits other kids, and he was never taught to punch. Kids hit each other all the time. If my son does it, at least he'll do it well. But seriously, the same Dad who is teaching him how to punch is also teaching him not to punch. How does one learn properly to restrain his strength without learning his strength itself?
Do I want a son who is non-violent because he doesn't know his own strength, or one who is non-violent because he does know his own strength and controls it?
In fact, another kid hit my son last Sunday and, for the record, my son didn't hit him back.
I wouldn't worry about it the punching.
American's have just taught Iraqi children much worse ... and all our children will be affected.
A 4 year old boy excitedly asked me whose side I was on, as if the Iraq situation was a sport or video game. I told him that no-one wins.
Originally posted by STANGLonely, sad man.... I hope you find something in life to laugh about.... something that makes you smile big. Every thread that you touch here stinks like a dead terrorist. If you had faith in a higher power then, maybe, instead of allowing your fear in world affairs to rule your life, you would have energy to spend making "Nice" to people. Just a thought.
I wouldn't worry about it the punching.
American's have just taught Iraqi children much worse ... and all our children will be affected.
A 4 year old boy excitedly asked me whose side I was on, as if the Iraq situation was a sport or video game. I told him that no-one wins.
You wrote "Do I want a son who is non-violent because he doesn't know his own strength, or one who is non-violent because he does know his own strength and controls it?"
I would definitely go with the latter. I'm a pretty new parent of a daughter (16 mos) and I will teach her how to defend herself. I don't know how old you are but the world has changed greatly since I was a kid. I think kids are not necessarily smarter but they are more sophisticated when it comes to schoolyard revenge. It seems they are more barbaric anyway. I fear for my kid and for the world she will be inheriting. She should be prepared for it at least in some capacity and it may not even save her.
Originally posted by TexasCowboyTried that. Had some concerns and raised some questions. Even you haven't given a meaningful and detailed reply.
Lonely, sad man.... I hope you find something in life to laugh about.... something that makes you smile big. Every thread that you touch here stinks like a dead terrorist. If you had faith in a higher power then, maybe, instead of allowing your fear in world affairs to rule your life, you would have energy to spend making "Nice" to people. Just a thought.
I'm gonna teach my kids to defend themselves and send them for some kind of self-defence classes ASAP.
I was lucky in that I was always a big guy so no-one really bothered me. Then you get to high-school and almost everyone is bigger than you. I learnt quickly the importance of knowing what you're doing in a fight.
I've been in enough brawls now to know how to defend myself, but it would have been nice to know karate etc. back then...
Originally posted by red king richie128why say a girl is hitting you as you lay on the floor kicking do you say what? i think myself. that comes with a equality as in the forces wemen carry guns do you say if you the opponent oh i will just shoot the men, are wemen more valuble?
oh yeah tell him never ever ever hit girls😀
Originally posted by stokerPerhaps not, but the proficient use of English might be though. 🙂
why say a girl is hitting you as you lay on the floor kicking do you say what? i think myself. that comes with a equality as in the forces wemen carry guns do you say if you the opponent oh i will just shoot the men, are wemen more valuble?
Surely hitting anyone, male or female is the same thing, violence. I personally abhor violence and physical confrontation of any sort, it leads to nothing but more intolerance and violence. Teaching a respectful use of combatative technique, as a last resort, is not necessarily a bad thing, but the important part is controlling that knowledge. If people are instilled with a desire never to fight, then teaching them how to fight can help protect them.
When I have children I will first teach them the philosophy of tolerance and control, then if they wish to learn the other side of the coin they may.
i agree starman that using violence is not aceptable but the question i answered was you should not hit females, giving them more imunity than a male? and even when the spice girls were top of the bands remember they went on stage and give the girl power threats to a male competerter yet people cheered and no critism was heard? small point i grant you but give females the impression that they are imune from any come back as the same by a male would of had the papers screaming blue murder,