Defiance: Why the fetal position cures blatant defiance

Many parents have to deal with it in their children. Defiance is the number one reason why children are punished by their parents. Some parents only punish their children for defiance. Most American parents think that defiance is deserving of punishment, in a way that stands out amongst all the other behaviors. The fact of the matter is that there are better ways in dealing with a defiant child. The fetal position is the ultimate cure used by mothers in biblical times to cure defiance in their children.

The fetal position is a form of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. Children are to rest securely in the loving arms of parents. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest safely and securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children just as they would to God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the wake of the submission of parents. Parents are to submit to children as their enemy, from beneath yet from above, revering and fearing children as vulnerable extensions of God. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in his original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with kidnapping being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his writings.

Mothers sometimes had to deal with defiant children even in biblical times. The first line of defense for any mother in biblical times was skin-on-skin comfort and sustenance for children, perhaps allowing the child to suckle her teat if milk-hungry. When the child continued to be combattive, the mother either picked up or grabbed hold of the child (depending on the age and weight of the child) and then curled up next to the child on the ground, in the fetal position. This turned the defiance into a quiet cry, and then calm for the child.

Mothers and children were naked in the family home, with children going naked everywhere they went until adulthood. This birth nudity was intended to make it easier for mothers to scoop up their children in skin-on-skin closeness if they cried, and to hasten the natural process of a secure attachment. Secure attachment is hastened by birth nudity. Mothers wore a thin, revealing dress similar to an apron when out and about, and swaddled their children next to her bosom in swaddling clothing. Older children tagged along with mothers, and may have gotten the fetal position treatment if they continually were defiant or combattive with mothers.

Defiance is because your child is angry with you for behavior on your part that they perceive as unloving and cold. What your child really needs to know is that you do love them, even as you say "no". Also, know that parents in the Bible were not allowed to say "no" to an order from a child unless it was completely unworkable or immoral. Children could issue lawful orders in biblical times, and were only unlawful if unworkable or in violation of existing Law. But, when you have to say "no", reassure your child, and if they are completely defiant or combattive, hold them in the fetal position.

Coupling the fetal position with breastfeeding is not a bad idea, and when a child is milk-dependent, it is a good idea to offer your child the teat while holding him/her in the fetal position. Breastfeeding is normal and natural for a woman to do. It also, when done thoroughly, eliminates the need for cow's milk. When the child pushes away the nipple, and only then, should breastfeeding cease. Breastfeeding in public was done in biblical times, albeit in a covered-up way. The child was swaddled to the mother's bosom while feeding off of her breasts. When doing this while providing the fetal position treatment to your child, the warm breastmilk should calm the nerves of the child immediately, and the child naturally gravitates towards your bosom while milk-dependent.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!