Clarifications

I can tell that this is going to be a discussion, so let me clarify about the focus of my discussion. I said in the last post:

Over the years I have been very concerned about Gary Ezzo’s Growing Kids God’s Way overpowering influence over many young couples, particularly couples who come from weak family backgrounds. I think that the way some parents “discipline” children borders on the abusive. And, I think that the Ezzo schedule imposed on infants is not only ridiculous, but ends up being spiritually abusive to the poor parents who buy into his obsessions.

Please not carefully where I’m going with this (all either said or obviously implied in the above statement):

1. I am concerned about Ezzo’s continued influence (though he has long been warned about by mainstream evangelicals).
2. I think he is particularly influential on people who have come from homes where discipline was not good or where a weak family structure existed.
3. I think that the way some (did you not the word “some”?) parents discipline their children borders on the abusive.
4. I think Ezzo’s schedule (not scheduling per se, but EZZO’s schedule) imposed on children is ridiculous. However, the main reason for bringing that up is for the last part of that sentence… PLEASE NOTE:
5. It ends up being spiritually abusive to the poor parents who buy into his obsessions.

That (the spiritual abuse of poor parents) is the crux of my complaint. As to scheduling, I think most common sense parents schedule one way or another. Even those of us who would be accused of the evil “demand-feeding” by Ezzo-ites generally work with schedules of sorts, or eventually work into them. Carolyn Mahaney begins a series on “Scheduling” with this most excellent post. It is so good I read it to our church family. Throughout her series on this topic she kept reminding her readers of this first post and told them, “It’s just a suggestion.” Carolyn Mahaney’s model is right. Ezzo’s is wrong. And I’m not necessarily talking about the actual schedule. I’m talking about the way it is delivered. Ezzo breeds pride and contempt for all other ignoramuses who are not “Babywise.” He also inflicts too much guilt and uncalled for anxiety on mothers who struggle to adopt his way. He has spied out their liberty.

All these things I will attempt to address over the next few weeks. I still think Ezzo’s schedule is ridiculous (most everybody is on my side on that one), but the crux of my concern is the devestating effect it has on the spirits of parents and eventually on their children. If people want to schedule, fine.

Just a clarification.