Originally posted 04 NOV 2014
I'll just get this out of the way up front. I don't have a big
problem with spanking. If somebody is using their hand and it is a swat
on the rear, no biggie.
We don't spank our kids. The reason I don't spank was that I was
'over-spanked' as a child. My mother would grab whatever object was
closest and just start whacking me. Often the object was a brush, wooden
spoon, paddle or whatever. Often the object would miss my rear and I'd
end up with bruises on my arms and legs or whichever part of my body the
object hit.
I was probably in fifth or sixth grade when I was called out of class
by the Principal. She asked if I was abused. I laughed and said of
course I wasn't. I knew about abuse. Abuse was broken arms, cigarette
burns, and the like. My mother had told me all about 'true' abuse.
I mentioned what happened with the Principal that day to my mother.
She stopped hitting me so often after that day but found other ways to
discipline (pouring tabasco in my mouth, thousands and thousands of
really long sentences to write before I could leave my room). To my
mother, I must have been one of the worst children ever because I was
always in trouble. I just remember being a reader and hiding away in my
books.
For this reason, I don't spank. Yes, I know a swat is far different
than what I endured but I don't like hitting. I don't like it all. My
husband was also hit with belts and switches and had no problem not
spanking either.
I've heard Christians talk about the all important spanking in
raising children. I just don't buy that. I think there are wonderful
parents who spank responsibly and, on the flip side, equally wonderful
parents who do not spank.
We've found other, non-physical, non-abusive ways to discipline and,
thankfully, we have good kids who rarely need to be disciplined. They
aren't perfect by any means but I can't imagine spanking would have made
them any better than they already are.
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