“Misbehavior” is actually just a euphemism for “behavior that I subjectively find inappropriate or that makes me uncomfortable.” A newborn’s crying is as valid a target of being characterized as “misbehavior” as is a child running around screaming in a library. Would spanking the newborn be an appropriate response? No? Why not? Smart answer: because the newborn’s crying is a symptom of an unmet need, the appropriate response being to meet the need. Is that any less true for the child? I doubt it. And that’s today’s two cents.
Skyler.
