I’LL WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP

In Monday’s “Ask Amy” advice column:
Dear Amy: At a play group recently with my toddler son, another mother with whom I am acquainted mentioned in the course of conversation that she washed her 5-year-old’s mouth out with soap to curb his lying. She obviously thought it was no big deal. I believe that washing a child’s mouth out with soap is tantamount to child abuse. I realize it’s not my child and the parent’s actions do not affect me or my child directly, but it’s challenging to not take action when a child is treated in such a way.” – Signed, Wondering Parent.
Amy responds: Wondering Parent: Forcing anything – certainly anything toxic, such as soap – into the mouth of a child is abuse. Would the mother think it was “no big deal” if someone else (say, a teacher) did this to her child? Children do survive this awful brand of parenting, and sometimes they go on to laugh about it with their parents later. Sometimes, not – especially if the terrible judgment leads to other abusive punishments. My own mother, who was a caring and compassionate parent, admitted to using this soap technique one time. But she said more than once during my childhood that she felt terrible and foolish doing it, that it had been a mistake and that she would never do it again. All children lie. Parents should make sure the child knows not only that lying is wrong, but that the truth will set them free.”
* Ahh, yes. The parental discipline topic. That always stirs things up.
* Do these people realize that mouthwash is soap? They just add a ton of minty flavor so you don’t notice.
* So how about if the Mom washed the kid’s mouth out with a MINTY soap, like Irish Spring?
* On the bright side, after the kid gets his mouth washed out with soap, he can blow bubbles for the rest of the day.
* Why stop at calling this child abuse? Isn’t it a form of terrorism, too?
* Amy says to make sure that children know the truth will set them free? Then how come when I told the truth I got sent to my room?
* Since the soap doesn’t literally clean the dirty words out of a kid’s mouth, it’s a good chance to teach the concept of symbolism.
* I just don’t think it’s going to work. If anything the kid will just curse more about how bad the soap tastes.
* PHONE TOPIC: Did you ever have your mouth washed out with soap? What other strange punishments did you endure as a kid?