Wayne Stollings wrote:
I do notice that "beating" with a shovel is lumped in with killing an animal. I have had to kill animals and have have to use such an object to do so in an emergency BUT I made sure my sons were not able to see that level of violence associated with their pet. You may not believe it is a problem, but that does not make it a universal truth as seems to be implied in these later posts.
so if your sons made the choice at a mature 9 years old to watch and say goodbye to their beloved pet as it passed, you wouldn't allow that. its not how i parent, but it's your choice in how you raise your kids wayne.
i however, see my daughter still loves me, still seeks my advice, still wants me to help coach her basketball team (even though i know jack shit about basketball strategies..lol) and still takes my advice in dealing with her cat. as well,l she still achieves at a high level scholastically, still puts forth incredible levels of emotion in her poetry and writing, still likes to be a girl in every sense, still likes archery, still has an interest in hunting, still has the responsible nature to do chores without having to be told.
my son, 8, has no interest in hunting, is a high acheiving student, is writing a play to perform for the third grade, is a math wizard, loves archery, hates contact sport, is more of an expert of african species of animals than most adults, and can ride a wheelie on his bike for a city block...lol
but he is not mature enough to be responsible for his pets, and i would consider sheltering him from witnessing a shovel killing of a pet, but he does not have pets yet that he is soley responsible for, so that is not an issue.