‘Son of a dog’...

‘Son of a dog’, ‘mother of a dog’, ‘fool’, ‘idiot’, ‘senseless donkey’, ‘animal’, ‘shameless’ and several others are the appellations thrown at one another in such households either in jest or right earnest anger. The parents, whose duty it is to prevent the foibles of their children, themselves are perpetrating such wrong acts and encouraging the children to follow their example. They thoughtlessly abuse each other and call names in front of the children.

The parents taunt the children and use unethical language with them. How can such parents expect that their child will grow into a gentle and respectable adult. They should realize that the child might prove even worse than themselves. They should remember that sooner or later they will find the child trading the same idiom that he has been hearing again and again from his parents. Then any amount of sermonizing and beatings cannot reform the child.

The best remedy is that the parents reform themselves in good time before it gets too late. Many a time the children learn this bad habit from their companions. The parents should keep their eyes and ears open to such behavior in their children and nip the defect in the bud. They should ask their children to try to avoid meeting such children very much. If you ever find your child uttering any abusive word, then don’t just smile and keep quiet.

With shouting and threats too such situations cannot be handled. This method might backfire. The best way to correct the child is to talk softly with the child and explain to him about the ill effects of using bad words. [^1]: Usul al-Kafi, v 2, p. 323 [^2]: Usul al-Kafi, v 2. p. 325 [^3]: Usul al-Kafi, v 2, p. 325 [^4]: Usul al-Kafi, v 72, p. 327 [^5]: al-mahajjat ul bayda, v 3, p. 127 Previous…