Strictness in parenting: Why not to be strict with children (and why they can be strict with themselves)

Many parents value strictness in their parents. Most every parent wants their child to grow up with strict attitudes. However, most parents enforce strictness on their children. The fact of the matter, however, is that the Bible commands another form of strictness, where children learn to be strict with themselves.

Strictness with children is spelled out in the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. See Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, with parent submitting as such. This surrender to parents came with strings attached on the part of parent, with children issuing righteous demands, usually when parents weren't pulling their weight around the house.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) 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 its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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 that 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 secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with women, but he sure loved children, and took in a few orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge of cords to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were hated largely for being "too soft" on their children.

The Greek root translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to here, in this context, modeling and encouraging Christian discipline in children. The Christian standard of discipline is deserving of absolutely nothing, therefore grateful for absolutely everything, coming from a sinful nature, leading to a chastened up example for children to follow. Christian parents in the Early Church centered their entitlement in view of their children, with children following in the footsteps of parents. Children, in biblical times, were caught being good, as opposed to being caught being bad. Whenever a child emulated the disciplined example of parents, they were lavishly praised and encouraged to "keep headed down the straight path". Boys were given manly praise from fathers when caught being good, whereas girls were given snuggles and physical affection from fathers when caught being good. Sometimes, children needed more direct instruction. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the advice and counsel of parents, meaning parents are only to give advice when needed, or else counsel their children when crying or upset. Children, however, listened to the advice of parents due to a secure attachment. 

Strictness in the family home is important. However, it is a myth that a parent should be strict with their children. Children need to learn how to be strict with themselves, and that takes more patience as well as a disciplined example for children to follow. A strict example is one that takes the attitude of being deserving of nothing due to one's sinful nature. Accepting this reality forces the individual to take a look around them, and be thankful for what they do have, expecting absolutely nothing in return. Children are watching your every move, and when they see you being strict with yourself, they will be strict with themselves, copying your disciplined example to a T. Whenever you catch your child being strict with themselves, be sure to reward them with praise and encouragement. This good behavior naturally comes out in increments, in which case every increment of good behavior should be praised or encouraged.

What ultimately motivates a child to be strict with themselves just like mom and dad? Children need a secure attachment in order to take the instructions of fathers seriously. Secure attachment comes first to mothers, and then to fathers secondarily. For the first 6 years of a child's life, children were in constant closeness to mothers, meaning that wherever the mother went, so did the child. The Early Christians practiced birth nudity, where mother and child were in the nude next to each other in skin-on-skin closeness and intimacy, quartering the mother in the family home for the needs of children. Whenever children cried, mothers were right there to coo at their children, reassuring and validating them by picking them up and holding them to their bosom in skin-on-skin mammary closeness, perhaps breastfeeding them to sleep when children were milk-hungry. When out and about in public, children were swaddled next to the bosom of mothers in swaddling blankets, in constant skin-on-skin mammary closeness. Come nightfall, children co-slept next to mothers, in skin-on-skin format. This co-sleeping setup lasted until the child reached the onset of puberty, which was when children wanted their own place to sleep.

The close nurturing by mothers in the abovementioned context led to children being ready to take on the facts of life with fathers. Children were introduced to the facts of life by their fathers by way of fathers leaving out a Bible for children to hopefully discover and read. When children were caught reading the Bible, they were lavishly praised with statements such as "that book is good for you". From there, children and fathers had ongoing discussion regarding the religious facts of life, with children eager to learn about the Bible, with fathers giving pointers about the context. 

The Greek root word translated "nurture" in Eph. 6:4 does, in fact, refer to nurturing. However, that nurturing is done by fathers, from afar, in a teaching sort of way. Christian mothers were close and warm with their children, whereas Christian fathers were distant in their nurturing, but taught children the facts of life in a nurturant way. Fathers had a parent attraction to their children, and usually spent it away using masturbation. Once the sexual fantasies were spent away, the father could focus on instructing his children.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them forever be 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Time-in: Why mammary closeness is the proper way of doing time-in

Many parents, if not most, have to deal with it. A crying or upset child. Most parents punish children or else ignore children when they are crying or upset, thinking that crying is an attempt at "undermining" parents. However, children always cry for a reason, and the proper response for a child is time-in. The proper form of time-in is mammary closeness to children by mothers.

Proper time-in is mammary closeness, with mammary closeness being a part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. 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 submission of parents. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, and are to submit as such. This surrender to parents came with strings attached on the part of parents, with children issuing righteous demands to their parents, usually when parents weren't pulling their weight.

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 its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor. 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 as holding your child hostage merely for things that 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 secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women, but he sure loved children, and took in orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge of cords to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were hated largely for being "too soft" on their children.

Time-in in biblical times happened differently in Christian homes in the Early Church than it did today. The modern gentle parenting advice is to kneel down to your children when they are having their moments of crying or upset. The Early Christians did not kneel down to the child's level, but instead picked up children. Young children under age 6 were picked up after their mother cooed at them, with children then being placed on the bosom of mothers. When mothers were out and about in public, young children were swaddled next to the bosom of mothers, in swaddling blankets. 

Older children then rarely threw temper tantrums in crying format, though they did order their parents quite a bit. When older children had a meltdown, in public or in private, they were picked up and cradled in the arms of mothers, in mammary closeness to mothers. Children were lightweight when they were crying or upset. Most crying of older children was in reaction to the word "no", which was rarely uttered to children - children had the authority to make righteous demands, and parents the duty to obey their child except when orders were unlawful or else unworkable.

Mammary closeness is where the child has close contact with the bosom area of mothers. The modern application of this context is in the context of birth nudity, where mothers and children were in the nude next to each other, quartered in their home by the needs of their child. The idea is to pick up a child when both of you are naked, and hold the child the child next to your bosom in mammary closeness. When out and about, swaddle your young child next to your bosom. With older children, crying and upset should be dealt with by taking the child to the ladies' room, and disrobe in a stall in order to serve your child.

A form of mammary closeness is breastfeeding itself. Mothers in biblical times breastfed their children, in most cases, until the child turned age 3, when the child pushed away the nipple. However, sometimes, children remained milk-dependent until the child was 6 or even older. With milk-dependent children, every night, mothers breastfed their child to sleep, and then co-slept next to her child. Co-sleeping did not end until the onset of puberty. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them forever be 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Respect: Why respect is earned in parenting

Many parents feel deserving of respect. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents punish their children when they feel disrespected. However, respect is earned in life, and that includes when being a parent. Most parents don't know what respect meant to children in the Bible.

Earning your respect as a parent means pleasing your child, as is commanded in the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. 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 submission of parents. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, and is to submit as such. This surrender to parents came with strings attached on the part of parents, with children issuing righteous demands from their restful place, usually when parents weren't pulling their weight.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damaages 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 its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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 as holding your child hostage merely for things that 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 children. Paul may not have gotten along with the women, but he sure loved children, and even took in orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers whipped their children with the scourge of cords, but NOT the Christians among them. 

Respect, in biblical times, was earned by parents. With that said, respect for parents was understood differently than how respect for parents was understood today. Children in biblical times were simply close to their parents. For the first 6 years of a child's life, children were in constant closeness to mothers, meaning that wherever the child went, so did the child. The Early Christians practiced birth nudity, where mother and child were quartered in the home, in the nude next to each other. Whenever children cried, mothers ran to the rescue by cooing at their child, then picking up the child, diagnosing his/her needs before providing what the need is. A common reason for children to cry was when they were hungry, and if they were milk-dependent, they were breastfed to sleep by their mothers. When out and about, children were swaddled next to the bosom of mothers, in swaddling blankets. Come nightfall, children co-slept next to mothers in skin-on-skin format, with this co-sleeping ending at the onset of puberty. This sort of closeness is what children in biblical times understood as respect.

When children left the house, they paid due respects to their parents. Reverent respect for parents, as an independent adult, came in the form of thanksgiving for all the fond memories of being pampered by parents. Most children surrendered to the law of their parents once they were baptized, as a giving of thanks for everything that they received from their parents. Sometimes, children resented their parents, in which case they either simply shunned their parents, or else took it further, and petitioned the council to excommunicate the parents who abused them. The ancients in the Early Church had a concept of child abuse, and they defined it broadly, namely as any entitlement perceived by a child as either damages or offenses. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Child punishment: Why child punishment is prohibited in the Bible (and what to do instead)

Many parents think that children sometimes deserve punishment, usually after feeling disrespected in some way. Most American parents punish their children when they do something wrong, and cite the Bible in their defense. However, the fact of the matter is that there are better ways to discipline your child.

True Christian parenting is summed up by the doctrine of mutual submission. See Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, and is to submit as such. Child surrender to parents came with strings attached on the part of parents, with children issuing righteous demands from their restful place, usually when parents weren't pulling their weight.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to wrath" is παροργίζο (Latin: parorgizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely personal offenses 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 its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, 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 that 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 parish at Ephesus. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women, but he sure loved children, and took in orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge of cords to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were largely hated due to being "too soft" on their children.

The Greek root word translated "nurture" is παιδεία (Latin: paideia) and refers to here, in this context, modeling and encouraging Christian discipline in children. The Christian standard of discipline is deserving of absolutely nothing, therefore grateful for absolutely everything, coming from a sinful nature, leading to a chastened up example for children to follow. Christian parents in the Early Church centered their entitlement in view of their children, with children following in their footsteps. Children, in biblical times, were caught being good, as opposed to being caught being bad. Whenever children were caught emulating the disciplined example of parents, they were lavishly praised and encouraged by fathers to "keep headed down the straight path". Boys were given manly praise by their fathers when caught being good, whereas girls were given snuggles and physical affection by their fathers when caught being good. Sometimes, children needed direct parental instruction. The Greek root word translated "admonition" is νουθεσία (Latin: nouthesia) and refers to the advice and counsel of parents, meaning parents were only allowed to give advice when needed, or else counsel their children when they are crying or out of sorts.

Children in biblical times were not punished. In fact, any anger coming from a parent was deemed to be entitlement, and if the parent anger led to damages or offenses on the part of the child - including personal offense - the parents, in the Early Christian context, were excommunicated from the church. Any anger towards a child, at all, was seen as entitlement. The ancients had their definition of child abuse. The Bible serves to lift up these abuse definitions in Christian law. Parenting in biblical times was motivated by worry or concern, not anger. Parents who were driven by anger were seen as vipers and monsters out to get their own children.

Fathers instead disciplined their children by way of modeling and encouragement. Fathers started out by working on their own demons, and centering their own entitlement, including in relation to children. When children saw their father controlling himself, they wanted to be disciplined like their father. Children emulated their father's example in increments, with each increment being praised lavishly and encouragingly by fathers for their good works on themselves. The Greek translation of the word "nurture" in the second stanza of Ephesians 6:4 does point to a form of nurturing, but the teaching form of nurturing that was encouraging instead of punitive.

What motivated children to be like their parents? Ultimately, children wanted to be like their parents by way of a secure attachment, primarily to their mother, and secondarily to their father. For the first 6 years of a child's life, children were in constant closeness to mothers, meaning that wherever the mother went, so did the child. The Early Christians practiced birth nudity, where mother and child were in the nude next to each other, quartered in the home next to each other, in skin-on-skin closeness and intimacy. Whenever children cried or were upset, mothers cooed before picking up the child, then holding the child close to her bosom in skin-on-skin mammary closeness. From there, mothers diagnosed the need and then met it. A common need of milk-dependent children was breastmilk, and so many times, a crying child was breastfed to sleep. Come nightfall, children co-slept next to mothers in skin-on-skin comfort and sustenance. Co-sleeping ended come the onset of puberty in children, which was when most children wanted a place of their own to sleep.

The abovementioned closeness to mothers prepared children for their religious education from fathers. Fathers in biblical times passed down the faith simply by leaving out a Bible. When the child was caught reading the Bible, they were given lavish praise and encouragement with statements such as "that book is good for you". From there, religion was a common conversation between fathers and children, with children being eager to learn, and fathers giving children pointers on the context. As the child's personal theology developed, the child was given much praise and encouragement from fathers for progress in their religious development.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them forever be 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!

Why pedophile hysteria is a form of religious child abuse

Many parents' worst fear is their child being sexually abused by a pedophile. However, what happens when your child turns out to be a pedophile? Most parents either deny their child's pedophilia, or else punish and shame the disorder as the sexually shaming parents that they are. Most people who support pedophiles blame children's rights. The fact of the matter is that the children's rights community is now on board with the mental health rights of pedophiles.

What is pedophilia? A pedophile is NOT merely something hidden. It is a hormonal imbalance where there is too much testosterone in the individual's system. That setup is linked to the autistic complex of an extreme male brain. Most pedophilia is the understory of a child-friendly autistic. Whenever you see someone with autism just "click" with children, think pedophilia. An abuser pedophile wants to play with children, but hasn't internalized society's mores concerning dealing with children. Most individuals with autism do not get along with children that well, and are more likely to relate to animals. A pedophile is someone with autism where they have a specialty in children in terms of knowledge or social skills. 

What is the center of pedophile hysteria? The central facet of pedophile hysteria is a form of religious child abuse by sexually shaming parents. Most pedophiles grew up in home and church environments that found masturbatory fantasy about anyone to be sin, let along sexual fantasy about children. Pedophiles were punished merely for masturbatory fantasy about children. Most children can profile for their abuser using instinct alone. Pedophilic children lack the ability to profile their abuser, and need to be taught the basics from parents.

It all comes down to the Greek root word denoting lust, which is επιθυμέω (Latin: epithumeo). This word, when properly translated, refers to sexual entitlement, not mere sexual desire. Sexual entitlement is defined as, officially speaking, sexual want, to the point of sexually motivated approach. Masturbation is how you fill your own cup to the top, and avoid approaching children due to unmet sexual needs.

Pedophile hysteria is something that is in the atmosphere, but is ultimately guided by the Christian teaching that it is impossible for a pedophile to inherit the Kingdom of God. Most Christians believe there is no way for a pedophile to be saved, because allegedly, their only outlet is also marked as sin. The fact of the matter, however, is that pedophilia, as a concept, is mentioned nowhere in the Bible. In biblical times, a pedophile was a man worthy of praise, either as the ideal family man, or a rescuer of abused children. But, nowhere in the biblical context is sexual abuse of a child condoned. 

This hatred of pedophiles started with the romanization of the Western Christian church. The Roman Catholic Church still prohibits masturbatory fantasies in men. The reason why most Roman Catholic priests rape or sexually assault children is that they are required to repress their sexual drive entirely, in a way that isn't humanly possible. When sexual desire is repressed far down enough, it comes out as rape or sexual assault.

Because parents don't want their children to grow up as pedophiles, they try to beat it out of them, and then maybe rape it out of them. Most child abuse of pedophilic children is committed as a form of sexual shaming abuse, and most of that sexual shaming abuse is lawful under present child abuse definitions. Some cases involve children with pedophilia being groomed by anti-pedophile means, namely by tipping off the wrong police station falsely, usually depicting the child victim as someone else entirely.

This movement supports pedophile rights, under the banner of "no medical excuse" in pro-pedophile tense. The core of pedophile hatred today comes from sexual abusers of children who project their abuser onto an easy target. Thus, calling yourself a pedophile as a medical excuse for abuse makes it that much harder for pedophiles to seek help. 

The depraved and entitled parents who sexually shame their pedophilic children will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let the pedophile haters descend into torrents of Hell-fire! Repent!

Elopement: What to do to prevent your child from running off

Many parents think that a child running off and endangering themselves is worthy of punishment. This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents punish their children for running off, perhaps into a busy street. However, the fact of the matter is there are time-honored ways to keep children safe from running off. Christian mothers in the Early Church swaddled their children next to their bosom in swaddling blankets. Children had to wait before having their two feet on the ground in public.

Swaddling children in swaddling blankets was part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. 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 submission of parents. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, and is to submit as such. Surrender to parents comes with strings attached on the part of the parent, with children issuing righteous demands from their restful place, usually when parents weren't pulling their weight.

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 o, 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 context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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 that 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 secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women, but he sure loved children, and even took in orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge of cords on their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were hated largely for being "too soft" on their children.

Elopement is a modern problem for parents. Most parents today simply hold their child's hand, hoping they won't squirm their hand away. In Ancient Jewish society, just like today, there were hazards for children. Hazards for children in biblical times included venomous snakes and scorpions that would bite children, and since they had no antidote for the venom, the child died. Today, there are also hazards, namely water, railroad tracks, and busy streets. 

Christian mothers in the Early Church kept children safe from danger by swaddling their children next to their mother's bosom in swaddling blankets woven of velvet. Mothers swaddled their children by way of tying the swaddling blankets around her left breast, the across the dot to her right leg, or vice versa, or both in the case of twins. The young child - under age 6 - was tucked underneath the loose-fitting, revealing dress of mothers that resembled an apron.

A child under age 6 is unlikely to grasp the fact that something is dangerous. Most of the time, children that age in biblical times were not out and about, and they never left the doorstep of their home until they were old enough to be trusted to play freely - which was older than age 6. Mother and child were quartered in the family home while in the nude next to each other, not by the husband's orders, but by the child's needs. This quartered setup wasn't harsh on the woman or the child, but instead warm and loving in a way that kept children safe. Infants and toddlers were either held or put in a papoose bag, and children between the ages of 3-6 ranged beside mothers, never leaving her side. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them forever be 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

Crying: Why crying is not bad behavior (and what to do about it)

Many parents think that crying in children is bad behavior. Most parents see crying as a means of "undermining" their "authority". This is a common attitude amongst American parents. Most American parents punish their children for crying, at some point. The fact of the matter is that crying is perfectly normal, and is a means of communicating vulnerable needs. Crying is not bad behavior.

Time-in is the way to reassure your child, and is part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. 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 submission to parents. Parents are the enemy of children, just as mankind is the enemy of God, and is to submit as such. This surrender to parents came with strings attached on the part of parents, with children issuing righteous demands from their place of rest, usually when parents don't earn their keep in the family home.

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 its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other 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 as holding your child hostage merely for things that 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 or punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child. Paul may not have gotten along with the women, but he sure loved children, and took in orphaned children. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge for cords to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were hated largely for being "too soft" on their children.

Crying is not intended to undermine your parenting. Instead, just like in infants, children cry in order to communicate. It is when they aren't crying that you have to worry. The setup to deal with crying is constant closeness with mothers. For the first 6 years of a child's life, children were in constant closeness to mothers, meaning that wherever the mother went, so did the child. The Early Christians practiced birth nudity, where mothers and children were in the nude next to each other in the family home, in skin-on-skin closeness and intimacy. The birth nudity setup left the mother quartered in the house, but due to her child's needs, not her husband's needs.

Whenever children cried, mothers were right there to comfort children. In most cases, Christian mothers in the Early Church comforted their children by way of cooing at the child, then picking up the child, before placing the child on the bosom of mothers in skin-on-skin mammary closeness. When mothers were out and about with their children with their children, they swaddled their young children - under age 6 - to their bosom in swaddling blanket. When young children cried in public, they were held closer to the bosom of mothers in swaddling blankets. Milk-dependent children were breastfed to sleep when they cried.

When older children cried, which was rarer, mothers picked them up and cradled them in their arms. This cradling of children usually happened in private, and didn't happen as often. Most gentle parenting advice says to kneel before them when they are crying or upset. Christian mothers in the Early Church instead picked up the crying child and cradled them in her arms, after cooing at the child to reassure and validate their needs. Cooing serves as a primal way for mothers to reassure and validate children's cries.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them forever be 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!