Spare the Rod? Only if You Want a Spoiled Child!

Okay, so, “Hellllllo” - this would be me much calmer since my rantings about parents, pulled hair and threats.  Part of what makes me me is a tendency to follow wherever my emotions lead me.  And if it involves children, animals, or anyone else I feel is nearly helpless, look out…anyone in the way may just get trampled!

I thought I should follow up with something very important.  I got a great comment on the post as well as an e-mail asking what I thought about spanking.  The woman who sent the e-mail agreed 100 percent about threats to smack a child and pulling hair (and even said she would said something to the woman and man).  She wondered what my views were on spanking, though, because she said she “raised 5 sons with the back of her hand on the back of their pants!”  5 sons?  Can you imagine.  Poor hand!

Allow me to say a few things:  When I was growing up, my own mom was fond of switches.  If I didn’t come home on her first call or if I did something dangerous, she’d pluck one out of the tree and….I can nearly feel the sting now!  I remember once when I was 4 or 5, I rode into the street in a toy car when she had said to stay on the sidewalk. The inside of her hand was redder than my leg was - but, as a mother myself, I know the hand didn’t hurt anything as much as the fear of her (hard headed!) daughter being harmed.

As for my own girls, sometimes, a certain “I’m not messing around” look that they called The Look would do the trick. (Especially with the oldest - the LOOK froze her every time….it still does!) Other times, a good heart to heart talk would get through.  However, for those times when their will was stronger than their age and size were capable of sporting, the hand met the backside.

I know there are people who feel that spanking a child is wrong.  But I feel that raising an undisciplined child is wronger.  The way I always looked at it, I’d much rather one of my girls have a sore bottom for a few minutes than to one day be harmed or killed because they didn’t understand limits.  Not knowing the difference between right and wrong ruins lives and destroys futures at best and kills at worst.

After my last post it may surprise you to know this, but I feel there is a lack of discipline with kids these days.  However, I don’t feel that a child being yanked by the head of hair is discipline.  Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s an irritable parent acting out.  The instance of the mother threating to smack the child was also an instance of a tired parent lashing out.  Discipline wishes to instruct, lead, guide, and protect.  It seeks to TEACH, not TAUNT.

I just think it’s a complete disgrace when parents act no better than the child.  But, yes, most definitely, I agree - spanking is a viable part of raising children.  Even when it’s done with a stinging, hateful switch!