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I applaud this thread. I'm surprised at how many still beleive spanking is OK. I surely do, my parents spanked me a total of about five times but they sure had my attention when they did. My dad had a short fuse but would not automatically go for a spanking, my mom would administer them more often as she watched me much more. I had a respect for what my parents told me to do by at the latest age 5 or 6. I didn't dick around with what they told me. I just did. I will add that I don't hold anything against them, I beleive they did the right thing. I love both of my parents, and have a great relationship with both.
I have spanked my own children (swats on the but, not an all-out multiple smack session). I will continue to do so. I have watched my neice & nephew, who are from a "don't hit the kids" family, steal from me, and when caught the mother wound up crying more than the kid. He, at 12, got a time out. Stole $40 & recieved a timeout. He talks back to his parents, ignores people, and is generally the bully of the block. Talk about someone who needs his ass kicked...he's now 15 and no one can stand to be around him.
I do agree that every child is different, and some respond to some things while others respond to other treatments. My daughter cannot stand to have a parent mad at her. I can almost guarantee that after two or three swats in the last few years, I won't ever have to do that again. My two year old son, however, is a different story.
I guess the parent needs to be comfortable with their choice in discipline, and I've seen both sides, kids that were too afraid to screw up to do anything, and those that needed a spanking so bad it was hard not to offer one up myself.
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