It is amazing what children can do.

It is unbelievable what adults will do to children.

Disciplining a child. That asian context and undertone to it. To hear a father yell at a child from 5 floors above is quite a scene. Yet we all turn a blind eye and take it as it is. A parent disciplining their child. It is the way Singaporean Chinese parents do it - nothing wrong there, just take it as it comes. Peripheral. That's what it is. Peripheral problems.

Now, as a child - I made an oath. To never raise my hand or use force on another child. I have broken that oath several times, and I wondered why I had to. To use force against a child, who is clearly underpowered is to exploit and abuse the physical power as an adult. I've never believed that a child who speaks wittily about others really means malice or disrespect. It is a perspective that the individual child holds. A true opinion. Which will be taken and schooled until it is socially acceptable. That's what is right, right?

Isn't a child meant to be creative? Yet adults would readily say - nothing that comes out of that child's mouth is useful. And my favourite quote from my boss. "The child's voice has no purpose until it is silenced and taught what to say." Quickly disregarding any possibility that a child could be a critical thinker at his/her age. That things have to be taught for the child to create anything of meaning. Why are we, as adults so ready to put down a child once our insecurities are unknowingly trodded upon by a child.

I guess my real point of writing this whole thing is that as a young adult looking back - my opinions on how to discipline a child has changed. But there is no time for dialogue is there. Never is time for things that really matter.