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  • Jan 27, 2008, 08:32 AM
    talaniman
    Good points EX, yeah I did the same, had one main room, and kept doors closed, especially the bathroom. But I did have to tap hands when we were watching TV, as my son was fascinated over changing channels. But he learned about No and Stop though, and after that, I never had to touch him again, Hmm and didn't have to move the furniture around either. That's my point though, as training them young to obey, is essential, I never had to tap the girls at all, as they just seemed to understand for some reason. I can't stand seeing people go overboard though, but I do think there are a lot of parents with poor parenting skills though. What about after a fair warning, and they still want to pull the lamp off the table by the cord?
  • Jan 27, 2008, 08:39 AM
    Momma to three
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck
    But in fact I would go as far as I did five or six pages ago, and say that it is more abuse to the child by not spanking them, since there is no proper control and proper behavior modification to keep many children from destructive behavior

    What makes you think that, just because I have never HIT my children, I have never disciplined them? To discipline means to TEACH... my children have been taught proper ways to behave, to treat other people and property, to speak, etc. from the time they were able to get out of my arms and move around. I never had to lay a hand on any of them to accomplish that feat, though.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 08:42 AM
    Momma to three
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by talaniman
    Just curious as to why those against spanking equate a tap on the hands to child abuse, when most of us who do spank, think restraint, is the key to corporal punishment. Also how do you let a child know that he shouldn't touch a electrical socket, when they are not able to understand language yet? Somebody just tell me the methods you would use.

    Hitting is hitting, no matter what "level" of hitting you use, or how you dress it up with other words like tap or pop or swat. I put plugs into my electrical outlets, and told my children "NO" in a stern voice if they went near them. They were usually much more interested in spending time with Mom and Dad than sticking their fingers in an electrical socket.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 08:52 AM
    talaniman
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Momma to three
    Hitting is hitting, no matter what "level" of hitting you use, or how you dress it up with other words like tap or pop or swat. I put plugs into my electrical outlets, and told my children "NO" in a stern voice if they went near them. They were usually much more interested in spending time with Mom and Dad than sticking their fingers in an electrical socket.

    Your lucky, my son would rather get into things, than sit in moms lap. He never stopped until bedtime, so what about the lamp thing, and if they were insistent on playing with it?
  • Jan 27, 2008, 08:59 AM
    Momma to three
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by talaniman
    Your lucky, my son would rather get into things, than sit in moms lap. He never stopped until bedtime, so what about the lamp thing, and if they were insistent on playing with it??


    What's to explain? Just keep removing them from next to it, say "NO" sternly, and interest them in something else. That's TEACHING and CONSISTENCY.

    Oh, and I never said anything about sitting in Mom's lap... I was talkiing about actually playing with the child... with their toys, or reading books, or singing.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 10:29 AM
    talaniman
    You sound like a good mom, patient and attentive, which I think are keys to raising kids. Do you think that technique works for ALL kids though?
  • Jan 27, 2008, 10:31 AM
    Momma to three
    Not necessarily... but with all the techniques that are out there, I don't think that any parent should ever have to resort to hitting their child when trying to teach them something.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 10:46 AM
    talaniman
    That was what I was really asking, about those other techniques, for those hard to teach children. As I said before, my son was one of those stubborn repeat offenders, he just couldn't leave those buttons on the TV alone, but was scared to touch them after a stern No and yeah the old hand tap, so I finally had to get him his own, that didn't last long as he still wanted to play with mine. (no we didn't have a remote, and that's a whole nuther story)
  • Jan 27, 2008, 11:36 AM
    jasondbel
    The bottom line is I spend tons of quality time with my child. We have the star sticker thing set up. I get down on his level and play cars. I teach him. Read books etc. That's all he wants. Its been like that since he was born. If he was a repeat offender, you're letting people know that you were not prepared for a child and you were side tracked quite a bit. Sitting in mommies lap doesn't cover it. My child wears me down with what he can come up with to play and spend time and our time together is very consistent from the moment he was born. I am a single father. All we have is each other. I don't take a minute for granted with him. The thought of hitting my child is unconceivable. It does not have to be done. Although he will clean his own mess ill bake a cake and let him devour it on weekends when the star stickers accumulate. At first he would not eat unless it was junk food(mother) but after a day and a half of not eating trust me he eats every meal. The minute he needs something I am on it. The minute he spits something out I'm on him. He knows daddy is right there from day one.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 12:41 PM
    NowWhat
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    i said my child will be prepared in case one of your kids who yall hit decides to to bring that behavior to the school yard. Sorry my life doesnt revolve on a computer. I have always been in the feild working hard for my money. I make as much money as some people who have been on computers since they were invented.
    My kid loves public perfect manners. Explain that? If everyone wants to call ocs then obviously there are ways around hitting a child. My god do these kids really make you people this strung out that you have to hit them? Let me take you to some places where there really is a need for violent discipline then see if a kid really conjures up a feeling to where you have to hit them. When a toddler becomes a toddler they are playing aorund with your authority because they love you and feel safe around you. They dont do that with other people you drop them off with. So you hit them. Great. Good for you. Slap the joy clean out their mouth. You should be proud.


    So, because your child hasn't been spanked and mine has - you think your kid is going to get bullied by my kid? Your wrong. My child has been spanked (last resort option) - she is pretty passive with other kids. The kids that have hit her and bullied her in the school yard are those that were probably told "no" a hundred times and learned they could get away with anything when they should have got their butt smacked to get the picture.

    My child, the one who has gotten spanked would not hit anyone. She has been the victim of bullies over and over. If I am teaching all these horrible acts of violence - then why isn't she the bully? Why is it those kids that have their parents wrapped around their fingers and never get PUNISHED for what they do?
  • Jan 27, 2008, 12:56 PM
    talaniman
    I think we miss the point of separating what proper for us to do as parents, from the whole thing about, what we have done. And my question to Jason is, does his technique work for ALL kids? And I have been very specific as to the examples I have given.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 12:59 PM
    Synnen
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    The bottom line is i spend tons of quality time with my child. We have the star sticker thing set up. I get down on his level and play cars. i teach him. read books etc. Thats all he wants. Its been like that since he was born. If he was a repeat offender, youre letting people know that you were not prepared for a child and you were side tracked quite a bit. Sitting in mommies lap doesnt cover it. My child wears me down with what he can come up with to play and spend time and our time together is very consistant from the moment he was born. I am a single father. All we have is each other. I dont take a minute for granted with him. The thought of hitting my child is unconceivable. It does not have to be done. Although he will clean his own mess ill bake a cake and let him devour it on weekends when the star stickers accumulate. At first he would not eat unless it was junk food(mother) but after a day and a half of not eating trust me he eats every meal. The minute he needs something i am on it. The minute he spits something out im on him. He knows daddy is right there from day one.


    So... starving your kid for a day and a half isn't abuse, but a swat on the a$$ is.

    Double standard, in my opinion.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 01:02 PM
    talaniman
    Make no mistake I am against child abuse, that not what we are talking about. But the techniques used by those who do not spank. The repoire and bond you have with your own kids is unique, and special as we make it, so I think I deserve to have the questions I asked answered. And as I have said before the proof is in the puddin, and again all due respect, you won't know if your right or wrong, until the child grows up, and you can see what type of human he/she is. If yours responds well now to what your doing great, but what if they don't? What are the technique you would use in that case?
  • Jan 27, 2008, 01:07 PM
    NowWhat
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    The bottom line is i spend tons of quality time with my child. We have the star sticker thing set up. I get down on his level and play cars. i teach him. read books etc. Thats all he wants. Its been like that since he was born. If he was a repeat offender, youre letting people know that you were not prepared for a child and you were side tracked quite a bit. Sitting in mommies lap doesnt cover it. My child wears me down with what he can come up with to play and spend time and our time together is very consistant from the moment he was born. I am a single father. All we have is each other. I dont take a minute for granted with him. The thought of hitting my child is unconceivable. It does not have to be done. Although he will clean his own mess ill bake a cake and let him devour it on weekends when the star stickers accumulate. At first he would not eat unless it was junk food(mother) but after a day and a half of not eating trust me he eats every meal. The minute he needs something i am on it. The minute he spits something out im on him. He knows daddy is right there from day one.


    Do what works for you. I hope that your son doesn't do anything he is not supposed to more than once. Because according to you, that would make you an unprepared parent. One that just wasn't ready to be a dad, right? You never know what is going to get thrown your way or what phase your child is entering.
    You can give all the shiny stars you want - one day they won't interest him and you will have to find something new. It is a fact of life. Not bad parenting.

    The fact that spanking is in my discipline plan does NOT mean that I am any less there for my child.

    Again, do as you wish and what works for you. But don't look down on me or discount my parenting skills because they don't match with yours. And don't make assumptions about all kids who are spanked vs. all kids who aren't.
    What works for you isn't going to work for all. Spanking works for us when we need to use it.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 05:19 PM
    jasondbel
    I don't know, if man can build nuclear powered friggin aircraft carriers or fly to the darn moon then there should be other ways to discipline besides hitting. His doctor along with a second opinion doctor told me to do that about is eating. I was hesitent at first but since it been done food is wasted no more and he will eat green beans as quick as cake. You people are picking a topic then scattering around with it. Someone said the kids that don't receive discipline vs. the kids who are spanked are the bullies. Who said anything about not disciplining? I send him to his room all day long. I put him in time amount as much as you people spank. All I'm saying is it's a temporary stage that they are going through as toddlers which will be outgrown and they will remember nothing of this time if they test your authority its because they feel safe around you. Maybe you people need to go to yoga or something to find some patience and tolerance. Just because you hit them and they don't do it again -they don't do it because you taught them they stop because they are scared of your rage. Maybe I'm being nieve because this is my first child and his mother is gone and don't really have a clue what I'm up against "according to talan" but I saw my son bullied by bigger kids and he picked up the biting and hitting from them and they were hit by their parents. On the other side of town my son was playing with antoher kid the kid hit, my son hit back more and harder a few weeks later. The kid that started it ran to his father said my son hit him. The guy caught himself telling my son not to hit and I said your son hit first my son defended himself although your son is older he started crying and ran to you.
    As a father, what was I supposed to do? Reach down and spank him tell him no because he was bullied bit and hit by kids whose parents hit them? Am I supposed to spank my son because he continues to press the buttons on the TV because he is fascinated with our new age technology and wants to learn everything that he sees everyone else do? He wants to touch everything through experimentation knowing soon he will be big enough mature enough to change the channel on his own with a purpose. So why hit? Ill tell you why, because you are so wrapped up in a darn TV show and it made you mad. Its just a TV pal. Maybe just maybe if it was a little higher he or she might not be able to touch it and there goes one less problem.
    Yeah, people are different kids are different, then how come all kids are already well mapped out in books, their different developmental stages? Terrible twos, etc
  • Jan 27, 2008, 05:28 PM
    Momma to three
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by talaniman
    Make no mistake I am against child abuse, that not what we are talking about. But the techniques used by those who do not spank. The repoire and bond you have with your own kids is unique, and special as we make it, so I think I deserve to have the questions I asked answered. And as I have said before the proof is in the puddin, and again all due respect, you wont know if your right or wrong, until the child grows up, and you can see what type of human he/she is. If yours responds well now to what your doing great, but what if they don't? What are the technique you would use in that case??

    Well, I've told you what I did in the situation you asked about. If that hadn't worked? I have no idea... because a lot of my creative discipline ideas are spur of the moment, off the top of my head stuff. As for knowing if my discipline methods work... my children are 22, 18 and 15... two are grown and on their own, and one is nearly there... and all three are people I'm proud to know.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 07:01 PM
    talaniman
    Quote:

    So why hit? Ill tell you why, because you are so wrapped up in a darn TV show and it made you mad. Its just a TV pal. Maybe just maybe if it was a little higher he or she might not be able to touch it and there goes one less problem.
    Actually it was a floor model console from JCPenney 30 years ago, but the point was that one smack on the hand and a NO, was all it took. From then on he knew NO mean;t don't do it. That tap was not out of anger, but to let him know what I expected, and now he has his own boys (4) and is a great dad, who has never had to spank his. But during those formative years you make decisions, and do what you have to, creative or not because at 3/4 they know enough where talking is enough, and no he, hardly ever required any punishment, and we are very close today, so the point is as strongly as you feel, you make a lot of assumptions for someone who is still going through it. I don't believe in hitting out of anger, and as I said if a tap on the hand freaks you out, and makes me a bad person, tough. If you want to equate me with a child abuser, tough. But let me see, if you don't spank, and get good results fine, I'm glad, but I did, and have good results, so who's right? Frankly my main objection is the name calling, and asinine assumptions you try to put on those, who have already done what your trying to do, so see me when your kid graduates, and save the keyboard courage, and threats for someone who cares. I probably have a bunch of kids older and wiser, and tougher than you so if you can't hold a decent discussion without the crap you sling, go stand in the corner, young disrespectful ,whipper snapper. Now that may be construed as CHILD abuse. Also your credibility is nill with me, as you have shown here, an adult converation is not your strong point, and I hope your son teaches you better.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 07:04 PM
    talaniman
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Momma to three
    Well, I've told you what I did in the situation you asked about. If that hadn't worked? I have no idea...because a lot of my creative discipline ideas are spur of the moment, off the top of my head stuff. As for knowing if my discipline methods work.....my children are 22, 18 and 15...two are grown and on their own, and one is nearly there....and all three are people I'm proud to know.

    I respect your opinion, and your methods, as you have made a good, no excellent case, in an respectful manner, and in no way am I lumping you in the same basket, as the young kid with the smart mouth. Continued success.
  • Jan 27, 2008, 07:09 PM
    talaniman
    I think there are to many variables to blanket say that one technique or another is the way to go. What works on yours maynot work on mine. Those are the very real decisions we make as parents, how to raise and teach, and yes, disipline our own kids. Every house is unique, as we are as adults, so we use what we chose, and do what we must. I don't need a law for that.
    Quote:

    Comments on this poststartover22 agrees: Perfectly announced! I like this a lot, we are all different, I value that!
    jasondbel : I also agree completely.
    Are you the same guy that agreed with me???
  • Jan 28, 2008, 12:34 AM
    jasondbel
    Comment on Momma to three's post
    Exactly! When its time for a plan of action I'm there with something imagintive and it doesn't resort to hittiing
  • Jan 28, 2008, 12:53 AM
    jasondbel
    Well its nice to see that the talanman over hear contridicated himself. He goes from saying a pat on the butt to 4 pages later all he ever did was a pat on the hand. Now YOUR creditability is shot. Trying to sugar coat or to be a nice guy now? My parents never hit. My Navy seal buddy's parents never hit and I've never had to hit my son.
    You're right momma to three... When it comes time to discipline then I go with what I feel at the time usually turn it into a laugh or something then move on to something else with always an explanation and a ear full of conversation. Dpends on every circumstance. Not only do I not have to hit but our bond as father and son is getting stronger and it seems to me like although he feels comfortable with me and would like to test the authority a level of respect and comraduree is being established. Spur of the moment. You stay on it. Don't get mad at me talanman because your a@# came home from work and felt like a man so you grabbed the remote.
    Contrary to what you are saying, I am just killing my head trying to find a way to separate "a hit" of some sort and an "emotion" of some sort. I am trying to picture a man replacing his emotions for his child with something nonemotional in order to subjectivley strike the other but for a good cause without a moment to spare. Completely contradictory. You contradicated yourself twice big tallyman. That's your new name "big tallyman."
  • Jan 28, 2008, 12:54 AM
    jasondbel
    Not subjectively, I meant to say objectively
  • Jan 28, 2008, 01:00 AM
    jasondbel
    So, why don't you toddler hitters give us non child hitters an example of when it would be appropriate to strike a toddler "only on the butt and four pages later only on the hand," besides changing the television while you are watching it someone said or breaking free from your hawk eye and running near the street?
  • Jan 28, 2008, 01:07 AM
    Synnen
    Jason--my problem with you stems from your lack of respect for others.

    I don't really care HOW people raise their kids, as long as they put their kids first in their lives, and mould them into good people.

    My problem with the entire discussion stems from the fact that people who don't spank want to force THEIR parenting techniques on those who DO spank.

    I think that parents that use different punishments for different offenses do the best, actually. And kids SHOULD have a fear of their parents. Not a fear of physical hurt, but a fear that they will disappoint their parents, and a fear of punishment, whatever the punishment may be.

    My stance is based ENTIRELY upon the fact that making spanking illegal is as bad as deciding who can and can not have kids. Really, in the end, all it will do is take kids away from a whole bunch of bewildered parents who are doing the best they can, put them in the foster care system, and further overload our courts with parents trying to get their kids back.

    How in the WORLD does that help a kid?
  • Jan 28, 2008, 01:10 AM
    Greg Quinn
    I've never spanked my daughter, she's learning right now and its part of growing up to make mistakes. To add any sort of violence to her life and call it a "lesson" would reflect a great deal of stupidity and just bad parenting. I could and have thought of a 100 ways of disciplining my daughter and have her recognize the wrong she has done. I would never hit an employee of mine for doing something stupid or rude or wrong or that they should have known better, I would get an assault charge brought against me. I personally would like for it to be illegal to spank children.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 01:16 AM
    Synnen
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    So, why dont you toddler hitters give us non child hitters an example of when it would be appropriate to strike a toddler "only on the butt and four pages later only on the hand," besides changing the television while you are watching it someone said or breaking free from your hawk eye and running near the street?


    When a toddler is "helping" me cook and reaches for the hot stove for the third time after being told "no! That's HOT!", moved to a chair and told to "help" from there and STILL thinks they have to touch it---I think that warrants a slap on the hand, yes.

    When a slightly older child is tormenting a pet by pulling on its ears and tail, and hurting it (thank goodness for patient pets!), and the child has been told not to do it because it hurts the animal, and the animal could bite them. Then the child is warned (the second time) that if you have to tell them again, they will get a spanking, because what they are doing HURTS, and unless they want to feel hurt too, then they should not do it.

    I've NEVER spanked a child (or slapped their hand) without at least 2 warnings, one warning which contains the words "If you do that again, I am going to spank you/swat your hand". I always try to reason and explain first. I've also only ever spanked a child when they were doing something that could hurt themselves or someone else. I feel that a swat from me is less than the real hurt of touching a stove, or getting bit by an animal, or falling down the stairs, or whatever. If they're just doing something annoying (like tormenting their siblings by copycatting or something) I find something more appropriate, though generally there isn't a "punishment" there--I just redirect their attention to something more constructive--like helping make dinner, or dusting the furniture, or playing with their OWN things in their room.

    I don't automatically jump to a spanking! Far from it! It is, however, an effective punishment when used for the right reasons.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 05:21 AM
    hossbonnam
    My son (at age 10) was grounded for throwing snowballs at the highway. He wanted to go outside to sled ride with the neighbor kids but I told him he was grounded. He then replied can "Id rather have a whippin"... so he could go outside.

    Does that sound like a kid who is emotionaly scarred... lol (mind you he's only been swatted a few times when he was younger)
  • Jan 28, 2008, 05:23 AM
    Momma to three
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hossbonnam
    My son (at age 10) was grounded for throwing snowballs at the highway. He wanted to go outside to sled ride with the neighbor kids but i told him he was grounded. He then replied can "Id rather have a whippin" ....so he could go outside.

    Does that sound like a kid who is emotionaly scarred...lol (mind you hes only been swatted a few times when he was younger)

    Sounds to me like a child who wants the easy way out rather than actually taking responsibility for his misbehavior.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 05:45 AM
    hossbonnam
    When I was in grade school I cannot tell you how many times the principal swatted me with a very large wooden paddle. Close to 50 times for sure, maybe more. I hated it. I was always look upon as the bad kid in school during those years, contantly being disruptive and having failing grades.

    Im not sure that those swatts were effective however I do remember the humility of having to get them sometimes in front of the class. It probably benifited the others students more by having to watch it.

    Since then during high school I went on to have a drug free, crime free life. Also I excelled in art and science and even made it to the Nationl Honor Society.

    Now if I thought my son was getting swatted in his school I would raise hell. Its not the schools place to keep my kid in line. That's my job.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 10:28 AM
    jasondbel
    My lack of respect stems from the idiots on this sight that when had initially posted my opinion some jerk had to give me a red mark against my name because he thought spanking is very appropriate. So if everyone is titled to their own opinion on how to raise their children how I voiced mine but yet I now have a negative rating? So since I am now labeled for my opinion you people are going to hear me at all costs.
    If my child constantly reaches for the hot stove, I pick him up, explain to him how hot it is, move the pot over and guide his hand close to the heat as to not burn him so he can feel with his senses. He now says hot hot every time he is near. No pain no violence just patience, caring.
    You people that hit have no good reasons you should hit for those few yrs of your kids life. You are making stuff up to justify your violent attempts to control a child by using violent means.
    What you people fail to realize is just because they are from your sperm and egg does not mean they are a possession. They are now human beings with the same rights and everyone else here in america. They need to be taught. They are in this world for the first time. Everything to them is new. They are curious and want to explore so you hit them?
    I am talking about hitting toddlers. School age kids do not need to be hit either. If they are acting up doing seriously wrong behaviors put their butts in a juvenile facility for a short period. There is never a need to hit someone unless you all both agree to put on the boxing gloves and go toe to toe.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 10:34 AM
    wolfcandy2
    Here in Lousyana as we call it,if a parent even raises a hand to the child,the child calls the cops and the parents go to jail for abuse... I think the children need to know who the boss is... not the police and the courts,they have bigger fish to fry
  • Jan 28, 2008, 10:50 AM
    Synnen
    As a birthparent, Jason, the LAST thing I think of a child as, is as a possession.

    Great--I'm violent and raging because I slapped a kid's hand instead of holding the hand close to the fire and saying "hot".

    Did you help the dog bite him gently, too?

    Violence happens in nature, Jason. Sorry, but it does. I don't believe in teaching a kid in ways that they never EVER get hurt, because being an adult means knowing how to deal with hurt--of all sorts.

    What it comes down to, AGAIN, is that you raise your kids differently than I do. You still haven't given me a good reason why it should be illegal, either, just as I haven't given YOU a good reason why anyone should ever hit their kids.

    You say kids aren't property, and that if you can't hit another adult, you shouldn't be able to hit a child.

    I say kids are not property, but they ARE a responsibility, and that other forms of punishment are not allowed to be given to other adults, either--at least, not without a trial, and a judge, and an arrest, and all that jazz.

    Want to have to have kids get punished 10 months down the road from when they committed their crime, and we'll just set up a child's court system, with police parents can call to "arrest" their children when they do something wrong, a judge and jury who can hear the facts, lawyers who specialize in child punishment, a jury of their peers, and laws pertaining to who can be punished and how, based on precedent.

    Eventually EVERYONE will know that being an hour late for curfew is going to be grounded for 2 weeks, because that's what the LAW says about it.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 11:12 AM
    talaniman
    The good news is you can't get any more reddies because this post has been moved, the bad news is your still talking crap.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 01:18 PM
    firmbeliever
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Sanjay Persad
    Do you think that spanking a child should be illegal?

    I might not be saying anything new here as I have read many of the answers here on this topic,but I would like to add my two cents too.

    For those who have said that parents are irresponsible and make the kids pay for their mistakes in regard to childproofing the home etc.One must bear in mind that not all of us can afford to have our home childproofed with all the gadgets available.And not all parents who childproof their home are good parents.

    And I know for a fact that not all parents are being careless when their kid runs out onto the street or go near a hot stove. Sometimes kids have a knack for getting into the most scariest situations.
    I have a nephew who has a habit of getting himself hurt in the most odd places,bumps on the head mostly as he cannot be still in one place even for a minute and he is just a year plus some months old.His mom talks to him,scolds him and even threatens to take away his things,he will say sorry,but the next instant he will bump his head or hand somewhere( after all he is just a year old).

    My mom-in-law thinks that he does it because he is not punished with a spanking.She is a mother of 5(the second youngest being a set of twins and the youngest being just a year younger than the twins).I can imagine how hard it must have been raising them all and I can understand her having to spank them on occasion.They are all grown up and married (some with kids).I do not see anything violent in them,in fact I see them more tolerating of their kids(when they get into mischief) than I am who was never punished with a spanking. I would say I am more strict when it comes to wanting to discipline my child (not that I spank but whenever my kid does something wrong I will not laugh or make them see I find it funny,I would rather she know that I am not pleased with what she did with a frown or even taking away some of her previleges like playtime, I have swatted my daughter's hand a few times but never spanked (hopefully I won't have to... ).

    Not all kids are easy to discipline with time-outs and explanations or light punishments.Each child is different and some need more than time-outs to make them see their wrongdoing( no hitting please... ).It might seem harsh to me that someone is spanking their child,but I might not have seen what led to it. Don't judge parents by the one time you see them with their children.

    That being said I would also like to tell you about something I remember from my childhood.We had a neighbour who used to beat his daughter a lot.Not with his bare hands,but he used to pick up anything he can get his hands on,one day he even picked up a log of wood that was lying nearby and was about to hit his daughter (who must have been 10-12 not sure as I was very young 7 or 8 then).Fortunately my dad stepped in and took him away for a talk,since then we never saw him hit her,but he used to verbally abuse her just the same.
    Sorry to say that there wasn't a system then to help her in my community.She is grown up and married with kids.I don't see her often,but I am sure she has scars that run deep and I am sure she will be all for making spanking illegal.

    Making something illegal has a lot of consequences as many have pointed out.

    I think a system should be in place to check on families now and then to see if the children are healthy and well disciplined rather than checking to see if the parents are spanking or not. I think more should be done to help out the suffering kids who are ignored or lost amidst the chaos of wrongful arrests or adopted by abusers or taken from one foster home to another because they were taken away from their parents and run through the social system.

    I am sure it must be easier to check on kids than having to check on parents,as abused kids will always have signs of abuse either in their behaviour or in their performance in school or in some other way that would assist the system remove them from abusive parents.

    As someone else pointed out, in today's age it is hard for two working parents to nurture their children as it once was with one parent working.Should we add to the already failing system by arresting parents for spanking their children, and sending the kids off to some strangers who for all we know might be worse than the parents who just spank?

    As I said before it is parental choice how they discipline their kids,but if the legal system and child protection were doing their job right,most kids who were being abused will be safe because the monitoring will be good enough to spot the abused and save them.

    Good Luck to all the parents who are trying to help their kids be the best they can! :)
  • Jan 28, 2008, 02:45 PM
    jasondbel
    Well news to all of you... My son was outside playing throwing rocks and hit a little girl in the mouth and made her bleed after I repeatedly said no. I spanked him and made him go to his room where he fell asleep crying. I felt really bad for that girl because today was her 4 yr old birthday. No creative punishment came to mind except a spanking. So, within a day, I change my opinion maybe spanking might be necessary.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 02:53 PM
    magprob
    I think asking the question, "Should spanking your child be illegal?" should be illegal.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 03:06 PM
    talaniman
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    Well news to all of you...My son was outside playing throwing rocks and hit a little girl in the mouth and made her bleed after i repeatedly said no. I spanked him and made him go to his room where he fell asleep crying. I felt really bad for that girl because today was her 4 yr old birthday. No creative punishment came to mind except a spanking. So, within a day, i change my opinion maybe spanking might be necessary.

    I commend you, as I think it takes a heckuva guy to post what you did.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 07:47 PM
    hossbonnam
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    My lack of respect stems from the idiots on this sight that when had initially posted my opinion some jerk had to give me a red mark against my name because he thought spanking is very appropiate. So if everyone is titled to their own opinion on how to raise their children how i voiced mine but yet i now have a negative rating? So since i am now labeled for my opinion you people are going to hear me at all costs.
    If my child constantly reaches for the hot stove, i pick him up, explain to him how hot it is, move the pot over and and guide his hand close to the heat as to not burn him so he can feel with his senses. He now says hot hot every time he is near. No pain no violence just patience, caring.
    You people that hit have no good reasons why you should hit for those few yrs of your kids life. Yall are making stuff up to justify your violent attempts to control a child by using violent means.
    What you people fail to realize is just because they are from your sperm and egg does not mean they are a possession. They are now human beings with the same rights and everyone else here in america. They need to be taught. They are in this world for the first time. Everything to them is new. They are curious and want to explore so you hit them?
    I am talking about hitting toddlers. School age kids do not need to be hit either. If they are acting up doing seriously wrong behaviors put their butts in a juvenile facility for a short period of time. There is never a need to hit someone unless you all both agree to put on the boxing gloves and go toe to toe.


    I agree with this statment:

    "Yall are making stuff up to justify your violent attempts to control a child by using violent means."

    I am guilty of this, and its purely because of lack of patients. I may not practice hitting my kids but I do yell with such a violent mouth it almost scares me sometimes. However wrong it may or may not be its not illegal and I don't think it ever should be. If it was I wouldn't have any kids at the risk they may cost me fines or jailtime over something they could have potentially provoked.

    Not so sure about this statement though:

    "What you people fail to realize is just because they are from your sperm and egg does not mean they are a possession."

    Kids may not be a possession but they are a responsibility, a piece of clay to be moulded. The are the product of their parents DNA. The are the product of their parents psychology as well. (I will show my kids anything I know that may help them in there journey) They will never be a product of another parents philosophy.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 08:30 PM
    NowWhat
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jasondbel
    Well news to all of you...My son was outside playing throwing rocks and hit a little girl in the mouth and made her bleed after i repeatedly said no. I spanked him and made him go to his room where he fell asleep crying. I felt really bad for that girl because today was her 4 yr old birthday. No creative punishment came to mind except a spanking. So, within a day, i change my opinion maybe spanking might be necessary.

    Jason, you learned today, that as a parent, you never know what is going to happen next. Thank you for coming back and posting this.
  • Jan 28, 2008, 08:41 PM
    victoriarose
    No I do not think that spanking your child should be against the law. I think that kids are lacking discipline these days. I think that there is a line between spanking and beating.. A child needs to know who the boss is.. There are to many parents leting there children rule the roost at home.. And I see this everyday at work.

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