Celibate and Sane: How To Scare People & Control Children ©

March 4, 2010

How To Scare People & Control Children ©

I was a Kid's Club Leader for over ten years at my old church, and during that time discovered some of the best ways to manage the children's behaviour. By the time the kids had arrived, they were usually full of pent-up energy and wanting to run around like maniacs. So first we would get some energetic music going with lots of actions, and usually finished the night with games or something to release their energy.

Right from the start I swore I would try not to shout unless I absolutely had to. I soon confirmed that bribery was a good option for getting them to behave, eg "Johny, please take that chewing gum out of your nose. Ok, no games until everyone has settled down."But one of the all-time favourite things I liked to do was to threaten the children with singing opera ... very badly. Yes, it's another amazing talent of mine.

I recall the one or two times I had to carry out my threat, and the children laughing, clasped their hands to their ears and cried out "No more Miss Vicki!" "Stop!" "You're hurting my ears!" and so on.

I still occasionally use the opera threat at home with my 11 year old. He heard me singing in operatic style once and decided it was too unjust a punishment for any of his possible crimes.

But the tables have turned now. He is taking up both clarinet and the recorder this year. Today we purchased the recorder from a local music-shop, and after I told him not to play it in the car, he realised that he had something he could use as a form of torture. His comment, with a twisted little smile was "I have a recorder and I'm not afraid to use it!"

Cheeky begger! I wonder who he learnt that kind of behaviour from? ©

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Personal Quotes from Vicki-S

"Occasionally I find my breakfast a little bitter, and sometimes it's difficult to chew and swallow; though at other times it's sweet, but it’s very satisfying and always sustains me. My most important meal of the day, is feasting on God’s Word and drinking up His presence."

I love me, because God loves me. It's not that God doesn't see my flaws, they are like blazing torches in His eyes, but rather that He sees past my imperfections and still loves me. And who am I to argue with the perfect God that I am worthwhile, that I am worthy of love, and that He accepts me and wants me to be His child, His beloved daughter? When I understood this, I began to accept and embrace His version and His vision of me, and not the world's.

"The silent treatment and sulking are simply two other weapons in the arsenal of the manipulator."

"Often people use the metaphor of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon to describe how we can grow from difficult experiences, but what they don't mention is the fact that at first we start off as an ugly caterpillar."

"We so often just get caught up in trying to just get through each day, that we forget to pause and be thankful for the fresh one that is presented anew and untouched each morning."

"Contrary to what we might think, forgiveness isn't so much about healing our relationship with that other person, but about healing our own broken heart."

"The purpose of school reunions is to show off how much you've achieved in life, to laugh at the once popular kids who've aged more quickly than you; and to wince at the guy who was a bully in school and who aptly became a policeman."

"I've found in many organisations where volunteers are needed, including the modern-day church, that 80% of its people sit back and let everyone else do most of the work, then there's the 10% who actually make the place run, and the remaining 10% just like to whinge about the 10% doing the work, especially about how they could do it better."

"When traced back to its source, every sin, every despicable act, and every war was motivated by someone's selfishness."

"I do not want to think of man, for that would distract me from God. But if I focus on God, I cannot help but think of my fellow man, and each day God keeps the scales balanced so that I have enough within me to do both."

"Overcoming depression isn’t about changing ones attitude, or just ‘getting on’ with things, it’s like removing one’s personal black shroud one thread at a time, with ones teeth.”