The Tantrum
My mother was a vocal1 supporter of corporal punishment, but for all her talking she has never spanked2 my siblings3, and me only once. Instead she found ways of punishment that left a more lasting4 memory then the short sting of a swat on our rumps. One of the most memorable5 of these occasions occurred when I was four.
In the early 70s my mother attended college during the day while my sister was in school and I was in daycare. One day at daycare I watched an extremely tired mother attempt to pick up her daughter. The little girl asked, Momma are we going to McDonalds for dinner The mother replied, Honey, not tonight. Momma has to run a few errands and then we have to go home and cook dinner for Daddy. But I wanna go. Susie, I said not tonight. Maybe, if you are a good girl we can go tomorrow. Susie immediately dropped to the floor, kicking and screaming, I want to go to McDonalds.
No amount of pleading or scolding her mother tried sTOPped Susies tantrum. Finally her mother gave in, Okay, Susie, lets go to McDonalds. Susie sTOPped yelling and smiling she grabbed her mothers hand and they left. To say I was amazed would be inaccurate6; I was delighted that anything I wanted could be had by throwing a tantrum.
That day my mother picked me up early from daycare because we were going to Sears Roebuck to pay on a Christmas Layaway. I was excited by the lights and 1decorations, and as we walked through the toy section on the way to the Layaway Department, I saw a toy I had to have. It was a white and red telephone whose bells rang as it was pulled along on a string. Looking lovingly up at my mother I asked, Mama, can I have that telephone
She replied, Baby, not now, but if you are a good girl maybe Santa will bring it to you. But Mama, I want that telephone right now. Her eyes narrowed and her hand tightened7 on mine. Becky, you cant have that telephone today, but if you misbehave you can have a spanking8.
By now we were standing9 in the long Holiday line in the Layaway Department, and I figure it was now or never. I lay down on the ground and began screaming, I want that telephone, over and over again. Weary Christmas shoppers looked as my mother calmly said, Becky, you better get up by the count of three or else. OneTwoThree.
Nothing. I was still in full tantrum. So then she lay down beside me on the floor, and began kicking and screaming, I want a new car, I want a new house, I want some jewelry10, I want Shocked, I stood up.
Mama, sTOP. Mama get up, I tearfully pleaded.
She stood, and brushed herself off. At first stunned11, the others waiting in line began to sporadically12 clap, and before I knew it they were cheering and laughing and patting my mother on her back. She blushed and took a little bow and the next thirty minutes in line was pure misery13 for me as various parents leaving the Layaway Department, shake their heads at me and say with a smile, Your mom got you good. I bet youll never try that again.
And I didnt, because it left a lasting mental picture more effective then any physical mark.
我妈一直都说她支持对叛逆的孩子进行体罚，可尽管她口头上说了那样多，她就从来没打过大家几姊妹（除去一次打了我屁股以外）。她总能想出一些办法来惩罚大家，而这类办法远比巴掌打在大家屁股上更痛、更持久。我记得最了解的一次发生在我四岁那年。
七十年代初期，母亲白天在大学里读书，而我姐姐当时在学校读书，我则上了托儿所。有一天，我在托儿所里看到一位疲惫不堪的妈妈来接她的女儿回家。只听那个小姑娘问：母亲，大家晚上去麦当劳，怎么样？那位妈妈回答说：今晚不可以，宝贝。母亲还有事情要做，做完后还要回家给你父亲做饭去。但我想去嘛！苏茜，今晚不可以。你听话的话，母亲明天带你去。 小姑娘听完立刻就坐在地上，踢着脚嚷了起来：我要去麦当劳，我要去麦当劳
不管那位妈妈如何好说歹说，那女生还是不依。最后那位妈妈让步了：好吧，我带你到麦当劳去。 苏茜立刻停止了叫喊，拉住她母亲的手高开心兴地离开了。我惊奇地看着这一幕，心里简直乐开了花原来只须耍耍脾气就能得到我想要的东西啦！
那一天我母亲提前到了托儿所来接我，由于大家要去西尔斯商场拿大家预定的圣诞节礼物。一路上，我被商场里花花绿绿的灯饰吸引住了。在路过玩具专卖区的时候，我一下子就看上了一件玩具。那是一个红白相间的电话机，只须拉一下机上的绳子就会发出动听的铃声。我抬头非常乖巧地对母亲说：母亲，能买那个玩具电话机给我吗？
母亲回答说：孩子，目前不可以。假如你表现好的话，可能圣诞节老人会送你一个。但我目前就想要嘛！ 贝基，今天不可以买那个电话机，假如你再胡闹的话我就要打你屁股了。 母亲皱起眉头握紧了我的手。
大家当时在定购部收银处那里排队，不少人排起了长队筹备交钱。我当时就感觉机不可失，不争取的话电话机就没指望了。我一屁股坐在地上尖叫了起来：我要电话机，我要电话机！这么一嚷，周围购物的大家都回过头来。只听见我母亲非常平静地说：贝基，当我数到三的时候你最好给我站起来，一二三。
我没起来，还在继续发着我的脾气。这个时候母亲也在我身边坐下，开始踢着脚叫了起来：我想要部新车，我想要座新房屋，还有珠宝，我还要我吓得立刻站了起来。
母亲，不要如此，母亲，你起来啊！我泪眼汪汪地请求说。
妈妈站起来拍了拍衣服，愣住了的人群开始稀稀拉拉地鼓起掌来。我还没有醒悟过来什么问题，他们已经欢快地笑了起来，还不时地拍母亲的肩膀表示鼓励。母亲脸红红的，向大伙鞠了个躬表示感谢。你都不了解在下面的半个多小时我有多么难受的。大家在离开商店前都会冲我摇头，并笑嘻嘻地对我说： 你母亲是为你好，我敢打赌你将来再也不敢如此做了！
我后来的确没这么做了，由于这实在太刻骨铭心了，那教训比身上的疤痕还更深刻。
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