Dr. Spock v Mr. Spock

How did our parents do it? How did they manage to raise neurotic free children, well almost neurotic free, without all of the self-help books? Frankly I can not see that they have done any good, but then one would assume a parent would have to read them first. When we were growing up there were rules. Children did not run around restaurants or run free in the grocery store, or whine and cry when they could not get what they wanted or make life miserable for the adults at parties or refuse a present because it was not what they wanted or just plain misbehave. If we had done any of those things we were immediately removed from the situation and spanked. Heaven forbid you spank a child in today’s atmosphere whether he or she deserves it or not. From what I hear when out, the best way to discipline these days is to ask is a sing song voice or ignore the situation or threaten with a time out. What about the rest of us who have to be in the same place with that spoiled, screaming, undisciplined little brat; do we not have rights also? When we are in a store is it mandatory that we be subjected to those high pitched screams or whining or crying with no tears just because your little darling did not get his or her way? Our parents had no books except Dr. Spock and I do not know one parent who read his book where I grew up. May be in this day and time Mr. Spock (Star Trek) would be more appropriate reading; he had a way of controlling recalcitrant subjects. But then again, parents would have to take the time to care enough to read.
The only thing left to do in Calhoun Park is get the fountain up and running again and they were working on that project Friday. They repainted the interior of the base a beautiful blue and while waiting for it to dry, they were spreading what I assume was fertilizer over the new sod. For two days piles of mulch went down to protect the newly planted garden from this unusual cold snap, hold in the moisture and generally for aesthetic appeal.
Patience failed me in my last column; I gave up on hearing from my test but as soon as I had given up hope, a letter arrived informing me of an upcoming interview. To say I am excited would be an understatement.
Politics is a volatile subject in any situation however; as the time grows closer to make up my mind I am still on the proverbial fence. I find it difficult to believe anything a candidate has to say; they say what people want to hear, so I read, I research and even with all of that undecided is my name. The point will be moot when this comes out; I just do not want another eight years like the last.