How far is too far?

There are so many ways to discipline your children these days.  Some parents believe in Time Outs, some in spanking, some in eye for an eye, take toys away...

I've learned over the last 5 years that each child and how you discipline them are sometimes miles apart. With Allyson, time out is the end all be all of her bad behavior.  As she is about to turn 5 in just a few short months, all I have to do is threaten Time Out and she snaps right out of whatever the problem was!  Now, with Cooper its a different story.  We've entered the Terrible Twos and while he is turning 2 in three weeks, nothing is phasing that boy.  He likes to hit, scream, tackle Ally, push the dogs, oh my goodness... the list could go on.  Don't get me wrong, my little boy is the sweetest-but only when he wants to be!  He will walk to up me wish a face full of slobbery kisses at any moment of the day, but turn around and push the dog two seconds later.  I just don't get it!

Yesterday as the family was making a trip to the post office, I witnessed something.  There was a vehicle parked beside a grassy area with a man and woman inside.  Outside this vehicle was a little boy, maybe 3 yrs old, screaming.  They were there before we had pulled up to drop our letters off, and were still there when we pulled away.  Maybe the parents sat him outside to rid him of his tantrum?  It clearly was not working.  Probably because it was in the upper 80's and humid outside, while this little boy just sat there screaming.   My heart broke a little for him.

So, naturally this situation got me thinking....  How far is too far?