Parenting, Sigh with Me

I tell you some days I want an instruction manual. I was put in a situation today where I didn't know what to do. I felt that what my daughter (9) had done required consequences but I didn't want to blow it out of proportion... so I proceeded to implement an old-fashioned method of structuring and developing self-discipline... the method involves a piece of paper, a pencil... and sentence written 30 times. Yes, I had my daughter write lines... (first time ever)

* I will respect my mom and will be thankful for what I have. *

I sat down with her and broke down each part of that sentence and why I was having her write it. In a world filled with materialistic wants I wanted her to understand that putting all her hope on a "thing" to feel complete is a sure way to grow-up always wanting "more" and never feeling satisfied. Sigh, on one end I hate how guilty I feel when I have to implement some sort of discipline, on the other end I know it's necessary because the future end result is more important than feeling good about the now.