THE WISDOM OF THE IVYVERSE

       There are many styles of discipline, but some limits on behavior are necessary. Whether it’s laws, parental rules, or a conscience, everybody’s got to have something to tell them what is all right to do.

       When Ivy was a baby, her parents were a little afraid to discipline her because they didn’t know what she might do in response (and unlike other babies, she could pack a punch). But her father had an important realization:

“[I]t'd be a lot more dangerous NOT to discipline her.” —Fred, Negative One, 0075

Her mother followed up with a matching sentiment:

Even normal children can become complete terrors if they don’t have proper discipline. But OUR kid? We probably need to learn to be even stricter with her than we would have been if she was normal. —Meri Lin, Negative One, 0075

       Once the crew took over parenting Ivy, Alix was frightened by the implications:

“But . . . how are we going to set any limits for her when she can honestly do whatever she wants? . . . I for one am not planning on spanking that kid. How can we possibly teach her to behave?” —Alix, Book 0, Chapter 11

       Adele’s answer wasn’t complete, but it was on the right track:

“You’ll just have to give her love, Alix. Then she’ll want to do what you say.” —Adele, Book 0, Chapter 11

       Many years later, Adele reveals her secrets:

“The answer was to let you get away with almost no discipline at all. Seems backwards, correct? . . . If we had tried much discipline at all, you would have resented it and turned your power to destructive ends, giving you tendencies much like those of a dictator. Left to roam as you pleased and allowed many freedoms, you saw very few barriers and thus did not think of us as enemies.” —Adele, Book 4, Chapter 20

       Ivy later explains to her mother that Adele taught her control by simply making her WANT to obey. This underscores the important lesson that the best discipline comes from within. It might be initially imposed by a parent or guardian, like in Ivy’s case, but eventually it comes from a general wish to be good, a genuine care for others’ well-being.

       So the best advice here is to do the right thing because it’s the right thing, not because you’d get punished if you didn’t.