Disciplining the children

[rskkiya]

     I strongly doubt that Nicholas would have 'whipped' his daughters! I should guess that this remark refered to some "happy family horseplay' rather than to any punishment.

rskkiya

[Sarai_Porretta]

Until I hear anything more concrete, I'm with the faction that believes the GD's and Alexei didn't receive more than a stern talking to - something along the line of which "I'm very disappointed in you" (which I think would devastate any of the GD's, with the exception perhaps of Anastatia!) which judging from the remorseful letters from some of the GD's to Alix, certainly seemed to be enough.  
They were simply too soft-hearted for that when it came to their children.  

I agree, Janet. I have never read of the children's punishments ever going beyond a stern talking to. Tatiana in particular was very sensitive to criticism by her mother, as she was always trying to please her. Her letters to her mom literally begging for forgiveness are quite heartbreaking, as she seems so very remorseful and sincere in her apologies, and wants so much to be back in good standing with her mother. And so a stern letter or talk from Mama was enough punishment for her.

I imagine it was the same with soft-hearted Maria. Olga was said to be the only one of the girls who rebelled against her mother and didn't always do as she said, but she along with Anastasia and Alexei certainly listened to their father if not so much to mom. So a lecture from him would have had the same effect.

[Ortino]

From what I've read about Nicholas and Alexandra, I find it very hard to believe that they would whip their children. Punish, give a stern talking to, or maybe even smack perhaps, but not whip. Nicholas was a very devoted and loving father, and the image of him whipping them on the legs seems......so out of character. I can't imagine that story being true. Besides, I cannot imagine a situation in which he would do something like that. It would have to be something so terrible, so horrible that it would be necessary to do that. They were all relatively good children, including Anastasia, even if she misbehaved at times. Olga, Tatiana and Marie especially were very well behaved. I can't picture them doing that at all.

[hikaru]

Nicholas II was hardly beated by his father in his childhood sometimes. And it is not so strange if he became furious and whiped children a little.

In the book of Anastasia Romanova "I am Anastasiya Romanova", she wrote that the girls  usually punished by placing  in the corner on the knees, or sometimes , in case of hard punishment , they placed in the corner on the buckweet .
( I think it is true, I was punished in the same way by my grand mothers)

[AGRBear]

From what I've read, kneeing on buckwheat for a period of time is  torture as the buckwheat sinks deeper into the flesh as the minutes drag on and on....

AGRBear

[hikaru]

As for me when I was kneeing, there were hot stockings on my legs - no flesh.

[bluetoria]

I know it's probably a question I should know the answer to...but what is buckwheat exactly? Please.

[hikaru]

It is grechka in russian ( base of brown kasha) and it is soba no mi in japanese.
Ii looks like small solid brown balls.

[bluetoria]

Thank you, hikaru. It sounds very uncomfortable.

[Georgiy]

Buckwheat is a type of grain, good for making blini, and Japanese noodles (soba). I have also used it in bread - very tasty!

[clockworkgirl21]

How exactly is buckweat used?

[Margarita Markovna]

In foods as they said...

Wow that seems like a harsh punishment. Has anyone read "The Secret Life of Bees"?

[Lanie]

In foods as they said...

Wow that seems like a harsh punishment. Has anyone read "The Secret Life of Bees"?

I had to read it for my Honors English I class last year...

[Sarushka]

Mmmm -- grits! They're not just for breakfast anymore!
 


I wouldn't be too surprised if Nicholas took a little swat at the girls every now and then. Given the times and the fact that the girls smacked each other from time to time...

[Margarita Markovna]

I had to read it for my Honors English I class last year...

Kind of reminds me of Lily's punishment...

(I read it for honors english this year)