Read Proverbs 19:18  Oh no! I can't believe this verse is in the Bible!  I can't believe that parents who love their children are told here in this verse to actually spank them!  Our verse goes on to say that don't let up just because the kid cries.  Wow!  Is that cruelty, or what?!  Actually, if a parent does not correct their son our daughter, that is the worst kind of cruelty.  Why do I say that?  Well, I'll tell you.  The only way that a child learns self-control is for their parents to correct them.  How does a little kid learn that a hot stove will burn them?  Well, there are two ways: a parent can just let their child burn themselves or they can tell the child, "No, no.  Do not touch the stove.  It's hot."  Which one is the kindest?  Suppose little Willie wants to play with a sharp knife from the silverware drawer.  Should his father just let him play with it, or should his father stop him?  But he really wants to play with the sharp knife.  Why is his father being so mean?  Actually, his father is being loving in not letting little Willie play with the sharp knife. Willie's father knows how dangerous a sharp knife can be.  How about when little Mary wants to play in the street.  Why does her mother not let her?  The street is nice and wide and flat.  It is a perfect place to set up a playhouse.  Is her mother mean in not letting little Mary play in the street?  No, not at all.  Mother knows that the street can be a dangerous place for a little girl.  Mother knows what is best.  What if little Sophie kicks her feet in anger and wants to play doctor with the medicine bottles in the medicine cabinet?  But she really wants to play with them.  Why is mother so mean as not to let her play with the prescription pills up in the medicine cabinet?  I think you are getting the picture.  Children need parents to be in charge of them until they get old enough to be in charge of themselves.  We learn self-control as our parents teach us by their control.  Correcting a child is serious business and parents need to take their job seriously.  And children need to accept a parent's loving control.  Before you know it, you will be driving a car and making all sorts of adult decisions.  And how do you learn how to make adult decisions?  By learning from your parents, who make good decisions for you when you are too young to know how to make good decisions for yourself!  Turst your parents.  They love you and want only what is best for you.