Spanking

Disclaimer** It's about to get a little controversial in here. My intent is not to offend. I just want to straighten something out that has been bothering me.

I've been seeing a lot of posts lately about how if more parents spanked their children, the world would be a better place. 

Let me make it clear right now, I will not spank my children, nor do I believe in it. I don't believe we teach children by causing physical harm, even if it's just "a little swat." However, I am not bashing anybody's parenting choices or how anyone was raised so please don't think that. It is none if my business. I just want to address the blanket statement that keeps popping up all over my FB news feed. 

I was never spanked.  Not once. Did I misbehave? Hell yes I did. Just off the top of my head, I once threw a rock at my brother which hit him in the head and gave him stitches.  Another time, I didn't want to go to school so my dad literally carried me out to the car kicking and screaming. So I was able to throw a tantrum with the best if them. But yet I never had a spanking. 

What my parents did was talk to me...after I cooled down.  They expressed disappointment when I acted out. They followed through with their "warnings." If they said we were leaving a store or event if I continued to act out, and I didn't listen, we'd leave. Or if they said they would take away something, they would if I didn't comply. 

As I grew, when I got in trouble, my fear wasn't of getting a spanking...it was of letting my parents down.  By high school, I was very well behaved for a high school student and I credit my parents for that.  They taught me responsibility.  They gave me trust and in return, I didn't want to lose it.  

That is just one example of someone growing up without getting spanked and turning out pretty decent. So this whole logic of "with more spanking, there would be less brats in the world" is invalid. Yes, every child is different, but don't blame the cause of a bratty kid or entitled person on lack of spanking. That's the point I'm trying to make.  There's more than one way to raise a child.   

Mason is a very strong willed boy already. I know we will have frustrating times.  And I may need to put myself in a time out so I can deal with the situation appropriately.  But I need to remind myself that he is a child. He is learning. He is looking to me and Garrett to teach him how to be a decent person.  We will make mistakes along the way.  Probably a lot if them. No parent is perfect.  All we can do is our best. 

Again, I'm not trying to step on toes. Just making a point that spanking is not the sole answer to all our problems.