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The Bogeyman


It is not uncommon for parents to resort to the Bogeyman (or something similar) when the children get a tad too much to handle. I remember several instances from my childhood where I was promised to the Bogeyman or a new set of parents in another city on account of my mischievous behavior. Even as a child I never believed these empty threats but well I didn't want to take any chances either, 'cos you know, "big people are crazy!"

When I became a parent I resolved never to use this concept for behavioral correction for 2 reasons:
1) It is a lie
2) I don't want my daughter to be scared of anything
But clearly Yukta picked this up from her friends at school or the neighborhood.

One day on her walk back from school with my husband she repeatedly pleaded with him for buying some candy to which he vehemently kept saying no. She finally stopped in her track, pointed to a random building, and threatened, "I'll go away to this house, do you want that?"

My poor husband walked the rest of the way bursting into bouts of anger and laughter.

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