EVEN DOCTOR SPOCK GOT IT WRONG

                                               LVIII

Bringing up children is not easy
You are certain to do something wrong.
You're either too strict or too lenient,
To the P.M.  Club very few belong

(P.M. - Perfect Mother )

If you smack a child when he's naughty
You can damage his psyche for ever.
Patient explanation is what you need,
But violence - no never, never.

If he turns out wild and unruly
His mother must be to blame.
Did you give enough love and affection?
You shouted?  Tch.  Tch.  What a shame.

And it really is no valid excuse
To say you did as you were told.
You must have done something wrong somewhere
Did you smack?  Did you nag?  Did you scold?

I'm glad I did not read a Spock book
Until it was far too late.
My children are sensible adults
And I certainly made many a mistake.

To J and C

(before smacking one's child became a criminal offence)