Excellent piece and attachments, Frances. There does have to be a happy medium (I'm not sure Medium is so happy these days) between too lax and too punitive in parenting styles. I was belted across the soles of my feet, because this form of punishment wouldn't leave a mark. Not very lax white parents. What had I done? I was "disrespectful." Perhaps as a result I became a rather indulgent parent.....but they were both always pretty well behaved.