When I was younger, I used to get in trouble for reading long after my parents told me to turn my light off and go to bed. All. The. Time. Seriously, my dad often came in and took the light from my room, ha ha. (Joke was on him, though, I had a stash of flashlights!) I'd also frequently get in trouble for reading instead of doing my homework--which just meant I'd have to do my homework at the kitchen table where my parents could see me. Fine, no big deal. I get it.
But the other day, on one of my pretty much weekly trips to Borders, I walked into the store behind two parents. The father was complaining. He said (verbatim): "I can't believe you're buying her a book. After the way she's been acting, she doesn't deserve one."
The mom looked at him, said "you're right", and they turned around and left!! My jaw was left somewhere near my knees. I just can't see withholding books as punishment for a child. Or, for that matter, ever thinking a kid doesn't
deserve a book.
Okay, okay--and maybe there were extenuating circumstances. Maybe the child in question has tons of books. Maybe money was tight and a new book was hard to afford, especially if she'd been acting up (though they drove off in a shiny BMW, so I don't think that was the case). Maybe... I don't know, I can't really think of anything else... I mean, I could see using a book as i
ncentive to reward good behavior. But would there ever be a reason to keep a book from your child as punishment?
I'm not a parent, so I really don't know the answer to that. Obviously, I'm inclined to think if your kid likes to read, you should be happy about it--and
not deny their love of reading to make a point about something else. (Unless maybe they're sent straight to bed without being allowed to read for a night here or there... And that's a BIG maybe.)
What's your take?
