€œIt’s Jonathan isn’t it?†She said pleasantly. Miss Hardacres assistant pulled aside the changing room curtain to pass me the first item of clothing, Jonathan was quite naked and staring at the floor in embarrassment as she appeared.
I then returned to Jonathon and ushered him into one of the large changing rooms and proceeded to remove his clothing. I told Jonathon to stand still and behave himself while I outlined my requirements. Making him hold my hand all the way, we walked to the high street one Saturday morning and turned left down Flannel Lane and entered Miss Hardacre’s shop, a traditional outfitters that sold, as the shop front stated, Little Boy Clothes For The Older Boy.Ī small bell tinkled as I pushed the shop door open and Miss Hardacre, dressed in a crisp white blouse and wearing pince-nez spectacles asked if she could be of assistance.
This gave me the confidence to introduce the dress code that I'd been considering. The punishment seemed to shock him and Mummy was definitely in charge from that moment onwards. For the first time in many years I pulled down his jeans and smacked his bottom.
When I was told that he'd misbehaved by swearing in the presence of the vicar I decided that urgent action was required. His behaviour had gradually deteriorated until I'd run out of patience. This is probably a good time to recount to you the first visit I took to the traditional outfitters to purchase his new clothing. A meeting with Jonathan’s headmistress confirmed that there would be no objection to him wearing the short trousered uniform that usually only first years wear. Most importantly I have now introduced a strict traditional dress code. In addition, any of my frequent guests must now be recognised as "aunty" and other ladies he may come into contact with as "Miss". I now expect Jonathon to address me as "mummy" at all times. I have also introduced some of the behavioural standards one would commonly see in years gone by. I facilitated this mode of discipline by ensuring Jonathon wore traditional school boy style short grey trousers that ensured smacked botty time was made much easier. My first action was to introduce a smacked botty for even the most minor of infractions. It soon became apparent to me that I had no alternative other than to regress Jonathon back to a time in his life when mummy knew best. Matters first came to head as my son Jonathon turned sixteen and became involved with some badly behaved boys. My hope is that it helps other like minded concerned mothers adopt a similar approach in their own approach to home discipline. I can say without any hesitation that it is unashamedly traditional. You asked me to recount my thoughts on the disciplinary methods I impose on my son Jonathon. (Winceyette is a warm nightwear fabric similar to flannel/flannelette.)
I don't think I ever did grow into mine!) Inevitably your mum would buy it a size too large so you could grow into it. They were usually made of a blend of wool and everyones first year of senior school started with your mum taking you to the school outfitters for your blazer. (A school blazer was very common up until recent years in the UK.
I run an occasional series of letters from the archives of a long forgotten magazine written to the Nanny Smackbottom column and the
This letter was sent to my blog by Etta and has been edited by me.