Spanking.. right or wrong? ..Mar 2009

OK. Have you spanked your kid before? I have. Todate, I've probably spanked Ethan perhaps 2 times. Spanking means 1 smack to his buttocks using my palm.

Am I proud of it. NO! No parent (I would assume, a loving parent) would want to spank his/her kid. But spanking is 1 form of punishment among many. It is perhaps the most serious. It is meant to shout "wake up" and "stop". Like an emergency brake before an accident. You would only use it very rarely. That means that if you have other means which will better teach your kid, then you should use it.

Another reason is also perhaps an act of desperation. When you don't know what to do to teach your kid. I do personally say that I don't condone spanking. But there will be moments when spanking is necessary. Yet, restrain is necessary as well. Let's remember that your kid will always be a minor and only a kid. Like I'd said. It is means as a "stop what you are doing" purpose. Nothing more.

Another technique would be our version of naughty chair. If Ethan is naughty, he sits on the stairs. He doesn't like it. And nowadays, this is a better solution. I think it depends on kids. Ethan, being more mild mannered knows that when I say sit at the stairs, it is very serious. It also means, "stop what you are doing".

I am glad I don't need to spank Ethan for a long time. I am also glad, my son obeys me, not because he is scared of me, but he knows that when Papa is serious, Papa needs to be obeyed. But I also explains, or someone else explains to him why he needs to listen. I also make a point to hug him and love him 1 hour after the whole episode.

I am proud my sons loves me deeply. And I believe there is a level of respect in their love. I don't abuse their love. If I promise them something, I will get it done, no question about it.