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She looks aty him as though he's grown a horn in the middle of his forehead. "I am the nanny for all the children the Master and Mistress bring into their household, of which there have been many over the years... what do you believe my opinion should be?"

"Champhy has been known to have taken her spoon to Averus backside, but not in ages.... I suspect it was because she was at her wits end at the time. Since he's turned around and become a respected, if not admired member of the community, she hasn't lifted it against him once. No one lives here, Master Kerobian, who does not agree with the will of the Master and Lady. And it is their will that no one takes advantage of the young." She looks up from her patching efforts and smiles at him sweetly. "That is not to say they do not punish. I've seen some very creative penalities handed down to those younglings who find their few, but strictly enforced, rules too difficult to follow."

"Ah... you've been talking with Tam... that happened only once... and I really don't believe it went a full hour, much less more than one. He always did exaggerate that episode. And the reason he ran for so long is he decided to argue the entire time, trying to get Lord Amestru to lighten the punishment. He brought it on himself, I fear."

"Perhaps. Lord Amestru likens the practice to an endless chain where each link merely repeats the one before it. Your parents used it and you are fine, therefore you use it as well. But the truth is, most youngsters do not walk away from such treatments untouched. Why teach a child to fear you, when trust and respect can do the same? Is it not time to break the chain?" she asks, knotting her thread securely.

"Then that is well and good, but many use the act as a crutch, a threat if you will... Do this or I will beat you... I cannot begin to count the number of times I've heard that exact statement or something there abouts. I'm sorry, Kero, for me it is a barbaric custom. You are not going to find me a willing convert." she says tossing him the pillow and pointing to another nearby which needs seeing to.

She accepts the second pillow with a nod. "Very well. We shall. How is your lady... and the babe?" she asks threading her needle and searching through a bag of fabric scraps at ther feet for an appropriate piece with which to patch it.

"Ahhh... have you tried placing him in a sling and swinging him to sleep?"

Kero blinks. "A what?" he asks scratching his head.

She frowns for a bit. "A sling... you know a bed of cloth that cups the body so.." she says showing him with her hands. "Unlike the cradle which has similar movements, the sling embraces the babe more, making it feel secure. Hung in a frame, it can be swung gently, creating a rocking movememnt. Of course, this is only good while he is yet too small to move about overmuch. Once he begins to kick and squirm, and attempting to move from one point to another, it is exceedingly dangerous. But by then they have usually outgrown the need for such embracing comfort."

She nods thoughtfully. "Aye, and I have seen a few which strap the child within, allowing longer use of the sling... but in all honesty, such are difficult to remove the babe from in an emergency... not a life threatening emergency mind you... but should the child soil himself or something of that nature, you would wish to remove him from the device as quickly as possible, to avoid having to do double duty cleaning it as well as the babe."