You spanked your kid? Then you totally deserved it.

I don't believe in spankings as a form of routine punishment, and I don't threaten my kids or fosters with spankings. I also don't believe in ever using an object to strike a child. When a parent hits a kid it enforces the idea that you can use violence to impose your will on people smaller than you. I don't see how you can tell your child "use your words, not your fist" if you're hitting them with a spoon/belt/the back of your hand with the idea of instilling fear in your child so they behave. All that being said I do believe in quick physical punishment ( a single swat to the back of the hand or but) if you catch a kid in the act doing something that is 1. dangerous and 2. they were already warned not to do. If i come into the room and see my young child about to touch my curling iron or something they'll get a quick smack to the hand, more so that they quickly take their hand back than to punish them. Spanking routinely, in my opinion, seems like a lazy way to parent. It might not scar your children but there are better ways to instill values and respect without resorting to violence and physical intimidation. After kids start school (age 5) they can understand some basic reasoning. and at this point spanking is more about the parents releasing their frustration and anger at not being listened to, rather than a necessary tool for correction. You can talk to them (if the child genuinely don't know what they did wrong), take away possessions, restrict access to tv, friends, or the outdoors, assign extra homework, studying, sports practice, assign chores. Kids can also learn by exclusion (give cookies, or stickers to all the kids but the one who is being punished, allow all the other kids outside). Everything in my house works on a reward system, everything you fail to do prevents a privilege (a slice of pie after dinner, extra time on the computer, extra time in the garden, to take the dog on a walk, to watch a movie, help me in the kitchen, get to go to the park/zoo) you need to have done your chores, not have been disrespectful that day, have a clean room, and your homework done. Kids like rewards and feeling included at family time so very rarely do kids (biological or fosters) act out and even then Ive never "had" to spank a child over the age of 6.

Do you still have a job?

Slightly surprised the comments haven't been closed on this one.

I don't agree with spanking. I mean, sure, it teaches the kid not to do it again, but it doesn't teach him why. The punishment should somehow relate to the crime. Of course, if that doesn't work, you may as well give him a light spanking. Not enough to hurt, but enough to scare him a bit.

Writing on the wall is hardly excusable as a reason to spank! You know what happened to me? Spanking turned into yelling. Yelling turned into being hit with TV remotes and flung across rooms. Do yourself a favour and keep your hands OFF your child.

I can not believe how many people around here are pro-spanking. For me, it's child abuse. You are hurting your child. Show them love, don't scare them for life. What the hell.

It's not okay to hit anyone, so why should it be okay to hit your OWN CHILD?!

Discipline is a good thing, OP! You're doing nothing wrong. Everyone I personally know that's my age were spanked as kids, as were my parents and many others. We all turned out perfectly fine. Some people just don't know the difference between discipline/punishment and abuse. I got spanked all the time when I was a kid when I did something wrong, sometimes I got the belt, and when I was visiting my Hispanic side of the family I got the house slipper and fly swatter too. Even being young I knew I wasn't being abused, I was being punished for something I did wrong. I learned to not do it again, too. Haha. Nice to know your son isn't likely to be adding to the spoiled, disrespectful brat population we have going on.

and obviously you punished him for that. right?.