I am thinking that we have several definitions of just what constitutes a "smack, a spanking and a beating. My father would "beat us" as such we as adults never did the same to our children.
My mother on the other hand would give us a "smack" never hurt but did get our attention. She would then (as we grew older) use reason "The Voice" and various other guilt tripping methods to keep us 4 in line. We loving call her "The Tyrant" she was the boss until we were 18 and that was it. The potato incident was only once (when I was a cocky 14 yo) and that was only because she was cooking dinner and had it in her hand...she used to play competition Tennis and had a VERY good aim.
Beyond the smack for a very young one who is either getting into serious strife (life threatening) or who is deliberately damaging property there is no need to smack ...I agree. Like I said kids don't come with a "How to" manual so it is tricky to find just what works. I think I have had to smack my two only a handful of times in total. They are very good kids and fully grown now and complain that they see adults just letting "Little Johnny" run rampant with total disregard for property and others...this distresses them.
I am thinking that for Beatings and other brutality inflicted on children we are agreed that this is not necessary.
My mother on the other hand would give us a "smack" never hurt but did get our attention. She would then (as we grew older) use reason "The Voice" and various other guilt tripping methods to keep us 4 in line. We loving call her "The Tyrant" she was the boss until we were 18 and that was it. The potato incident was only once (when I was a cocky 14 yo) and that was only because she was cooking dinner and had it in her hand...she used to play competition Tennis and had a VERY good aim.
Beyond the smack for a very young one who is either getting into serious strife (life threatening) or who is deliberately damaging property there is no need to smack ...I agree. Like I said kids don't come with a "How to" manual so it is tricky to find just what works. I think I have had to smack my two only a handful of times in total. They are very good kids and fully grown now and complain that they see adults just letting "Little Johnny" run rampant with total disregard for property and others...this distresses them.
I am thinking that for Beatings and other brutality inflicted on children we are agreed that this is not necessary.
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
