Spare The Rod; Spoil The Child

C J Lewis
Author: C J Lewis
Word Count: 402
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I told him I had to pay board to my parents
From the moment I first started working
He thought that appalling
He never paid his parents
They loved him he said
I told him mine loved me too
They were teaching me responsibility

He told me his parents bought him a car
For his sixteenth birthday
I told him I had to work to pay for mine
As my parents were teaching me the value of self-worth
And the most I had received as a material gift was a sewing machine
So I could make my own clothes to express my individuality

He called me dumb because I never had a higher education
I told him my father didn’t want my mind-set altered
That he wanted me to learn from my own intellect
My intuition as the Latin word intellect means
So as not to be brainwashed by the hypotheses of others

He continued to call me dumb
Until I took myself to University
Passing with a credit and distinction
Putting a halt to his weapon of destruction
Against my psychological outlook
By nipping his belittling words in the butt
I gained a higher education of not much use

He became perplexed as a spoilt man-child
I became happy as a free individual

His parents did him no great favours
As he had no discipline of his own
And no self-control for the addictions
He allowed himself over the years to fall victim to
And for the joys of his higher education
I had never known him to work
I had never been a kept woman

His father physically attacked him during his developing years
I later saw and heard him yelling as his mother
To the point of bringing her to tears

My father never believed in hitting children
Preferring to address his offspring’s psychological outlook
I never screamed at my mother

His parents had spared the rod; discipline, as the word means theologically
And they had spoilt; marred, the child’s character

Oh yes, my parents had given me many wonderful gifts
In the form of life lessons through tough love on how to be a survivor
As my parents truly loved me with great care and consideration
Nurturing me so that I could just be the best of my ability

Whilst he was lost
Amongst the spoils of growing up.

© C J Lewis, 2009

  • mimulux

    mimulux 26 days ago

    brilliant…... so true…....... wonderful cj!

  • C J Lewis replied 24 days ago

    Hi Pat … thank you. Appreciate the fav on this too. Hope you are well and enjoying the new tanya :)x

  • Gregory John O'Flaherty

    Gregory John O... 26 days ago

    Good read… Sounds like your parents were similar to mine, prefering to teach their children to make it on their own effort, rather than to rely on hand outs from them..

  • C J Lewis replied 24 days ago

    Thanks Gregory. Yep, good parents are a Godsend :)

  • gemini63

    gemini63 25 days ago

    Such true words to be brought up to know the value of things and appreciate them because you know you have earnt them :))

  • C J Lewis replied 24 days ago

    Thank you for your comment gemini63 … yes, very true :)

  • mimulux

    mimulux 24 days ago

    thanks.. and yes and no. wished my internet connection was better.. it drives menuts… but then.. there’s a reason for everything LOL :))) i found a new provider now and hope they will contact me soon :)

  • C J Lewis replied 21 days ago

    Oh dear Pat .. hope your new internet connection is working properly soon. Good to hear you are finally in the new tanya … have fun there :)

  • Vanessa Barklay

    Vanessa Barklay 23 days ago

    Really brilliant work, I really enjoyed the whole message and story! :O)

  • C J Lewis replied 21 days ago

    Thank you very much Vanessa …am glad to hear you enjoyed the message & story:)

  • mimulux

    mimulux 21 days ago

    hi cj :) yep.. having great fun.. just raked autumn-leaves for almost two hours.. now i am knackered LOLOLOL :)) it is FUN to work outside.. i love the smell of autumn.. the dogs were jumping around me trying to help.. hahaha :) it is a lovely, warm, sunny day in hungary today. i hope the internetprovder gets in touch soon… however i feel that my creativity has come back full force.. i could spend tons of time here.. but alas.. i cannot upload it all so.. i have to check my enthusiasm and slow myself down.. grrrrrrrr.. NOT that i like to have to do that ;) many hugs to you my friend xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :))

  • C J Lewis replied 13 days ago

    Apologies Pat … I didn’t reply to this one properly 7 days ago … didn’t hit the reply button so just went on as a comment … lol.
    Good exercise for you Pat … sounds lovely over there at present … autumn is a wonderful time … beautiful colours – not too hot nor too cold. Gosh, still waiting for the internet provider … guess it is a lesson in patience is a virtue lol Great to hear your creativity has come back full force … look forward to seeing your new works when you upload :)xoxoxo

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