by Mary Rice

Created on: July 04, 2009

Does spanking work for disciplining kids? A loaded question if ever there was one. I can only speak for myself and my experiences with spanking. As a child I was spanked a total of twice. It was such a rare occurrence that the reasons for being spanked were indelibly imprinted on me for life, as were the lessons from those reasons. The first was because I lied and got someone else in trouble and the second was because I complained about doing something as simple as making a bed. The two lessons were simple, don't lie and don't complain or whine about doing a simple task.

However as a parent, I can tell you that my daughter has gotten spanked more then twice. Each time was for a specific reason and to correct a behavior or action that was unacceptable at that immediate moment. Once the spanking was over we moved on. Therein lays the difference between spanking and beating I think. A very important difference.

Those that say spanking damages a child or teaches them violence should come meet my daughter. She's 15 now. She harbors no anger;other then typical teenage angst; toward me, nor is she violent or maladjusted. I've had a child psychologist say that she was in fact one of the better adjusted teenagers he's ever seen. Her teachers all enjoy having her as a student, though her grades are, well, that's a whole different topic. She knows right from wrong and knows what acceptable behavior is in most situations. She respects me as a person and a parent and she thinks those that think spanking damages a child are idiots.

However, the question is does it work. I say it does. When my daughter was around five or six she decided one night that perhaps she didn't want to go to bed, or at least stay in bed. It was a rare enough occurrence. As a rule she was very good about bedtime. I'd tuck her in, give her a hug and a kiss, say good-night and walk out of the room. She'd sing to herself for a bit and fall asleep, very simple. This night however, she decided for whatever reason to not do that. Within five minutes of me walking out of the room and sitting down, she comes wandering out stating she had to go potty. Okay, acceptable reason. She goes potty and then wants another hug. She gets another hug fro me and my boyfriend and wanders back to bed. A bit out of the normal but variations happen.

Three minutes later, out she comes again, informing me she was thirsty. I tell her get back in bed and I'll get a glass of water. She goes back to bed, I bring glass of water,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>