I'm really tired of people using the word "discipline" [View all]

[Ilsa]

when what they are really doing is punishing or abusing a child. Furthermore, they accuse others of not disciplining their children because they don't spank or hit. They think the only way to teach a child is to spank or beat in the lesson.

I think they are confused about the meaning of the word based on its origins, to teach or to train. Discipline, if you go by the early etiology of the word, doesn't mean to punish. Disciples were followers who were in training. Over time, as the word is misused in the context of parenting, the punishment definition has evolved.

Discipline, in the context of parenting, is foremost about training and teaching, not punishing.