Real Life Stories - November 2008

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Each week I appraise his efforts for the week just gone by and explain to him where I require improvement or more effort. I then decide whether he deserves punishment (he always does!) and inform him of how many strokes with my strap or cane and/or extra days in his device that I have decided to award him.

He has to keep the date of this next release on the calendar and update it if days are added. He knows better than to say anything if extra days are awarded but his disappointment is obvious as he walks over to cross out the old and mark up the new date.

I am always amused as the release day approaches at how even more attentive he becomes and the effort he puts in to make sure he doesn’t upset or annoy me!

I also award summary punishment for misdemeanours, which occur during the week, and which annoy me for any reason but the weekly appraisal has become an important part of our relationship. It lays down the standards I expect and closes off one week and starts a new one with a clean sheet.

Timothy says this is particularly important for him, as he feels ‘cleansed’ and forgiven for any mistakes or faults and able to concentrate on getting things right for the coming week.

Needless to say I rarely have to comment on the same fault twice as he knows how severe the punishment would be if that happened!