I have two kids, a 6 and a 16 year old. The first time I spanked was when my daughter was 5. Before then, I was against it, but I questioned my belief systems after I saw my other methods of parenting did not work. My children are completely different people, and fortunately, spanking was not necessary. I spanked her once, and I have not had to do it ever since, and I consider it a last resort.
I think the reason why spanking gets bad press is because there are parents that abuse this method. My parents did, and the end result is traumatizing and effects the relationship,(or lack of it) for years to come. In general, the use of violence is not right way. If used for behavior training and the right way, its very effective to those few children that need it. Its damaging to use spanking when the child does not deserve it, as the kid grows up to hate their parents, and have no respect for them. Spanking should be done in private, thats appropriate.
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