I found this quote when I searched for information about the Swedish writer of children's books, Astrid Lindgren - I believe this is something for all of us to read:
"When I was about 20 years old, I met an old pastor’s wife who told me that when she was young and had her first child, she didn’t believe in striking children, although spanking kids with a switch pulled from a tree was standard punishment at the time. But one day, when her son was four or five, he did something that she felt warranted a spanking–the first in his life. She told him that he would have to go outside himself and find a switch for her to hit him with.
The boy was gone a long time. And when he came back in, he was crying. He said to her, “Mama, I couldn’t find a switch, but here’s a rock that you can throw at me.”
All of a sudden the mother understood how the situation felt from the child’s point of view: that if my mother wants to hurt me, then it makes no difference what she does it with; she might as well do it with a stone.
And the mother took the boy into her lap and they both cried. Then she laid the rock on a shelf in the kitchen to remind herself forever: never violence. And that is something I think everyone should keep in mind. Because if violence begins in the nursery one can raise children into violence."
-- Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking, 1978 Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
Originally posted by lolofI'm going to be a killjoy and point out that most kids know that the rock is worse. Far, far worse.
I found this quote when I searched for information about the Swedish writer of children's books, Astrid Lindgren - I believe this is something for all of us to read:
"When I was about 20 years old, I met an old pastor’s wife who told me that when she was young and had her first child, she didn’t believe in striking children, although spanking kids with a s ...[text shortened]... lence."
-- Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking, 1978 Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
Originally posted by MerlionYes, spring is approaching... I didn't make the thread for any particular reason, I just happened to find the quote and it made me cry.
The story may be apocryphal (we don't know) but that does not lessen its value, to me anyway. Spring is upon us and the forum seems to be awakening a bit.
Astrid Lindgren was a writer with great integrity and her books are read all over the world.
Originally posted by lolofIts Autumn.
Yes, spring is approaching... I didn't make the thread for any particular reason, I just happened to find the quote and it made me cry.
Astrid Lindgren was a writer with great integrity and her books are read all over the world.
Feels like winter.
And what happened to summer?
ðŸ˜
btw: great story
Originally posted by ChessPraxisWe wouldn't hit or punish cats for instance, would we? I sometimes read about people who use physical punishment on dogs but we hardly ever see that happen here.
Spare the rod, spoil the child
Use a rock
You'll be under key and lock...
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Originally posted by lolofEvery parent should be so affected by this story.
I found this quote when I searched for information about the Swedish writer of children's books, Astrid Lindgren - I believe this is something for all of us to read:
"When I was about 20 years old, I met an old pastor’s wife who told me that when she was young and had her first child, she didn’t believe in striking children, although spanking kids with a s ...[text shortened]... lence."
-- Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking, 1978 Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
Originally posted by JS357Before we leave this thread, I just wish to say that the speech was delivered by Astrid Lindgren when she collected the German Booksellers’ Peace Prize in Frankfurt in 1978.
Every parent should be so affected by this story.
"In the speech, ..., she passionately confronts violence, corporal punishment and oppressive methods used in raising children. In Germany the speech was considered very controversial and it was not until Astrid threatened to refuse the prize, that she got permission to give the speech at the prize-giving ceremony. The following year (1979) a law was passed in Sweden forbidding corporal punishment of children..."
A few words in the quote I found were incorrect but I was so upset I didn't notice it. 'Rock' should have been 'stone' e.g. but you seem to read it right anyway. Thank you.