Do you think hitting your child is right or a good way to discipline?

"I know in Canada, if you strike your child you can only spank them on the bum with the palm of your hand and only once. When I was younger, my mother struck me every place she could and she pushed me into door frames. My father never hit me.

Since then, I’ve elected never to strike my children with anything but words. I understand firm discipline is sometimes needed, but striking them only distances them from you and instills fear into them.

It can cause them to strike their future children and the vicious cycle continues on and on. So do you think it’s right?"

There’s an old saying that people should "pick on someone their own size". A child who gets smacked by an adult (a giant to them) renders fear and resentment. Walking on egg shells because you’re afraid of getting spanked is not the way a child should be raised.

Respect the child and he/she will grow up respecting authority.

However, I have seen kids get spanked throughout my lifetime. I’m a grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of 3. None of the kids I know grew up as bad parents themselves. Back then, it was "spare the rod and spoil the child" (according to Christian scripture). But, as others have stated, there’s a definite different between spanking to make a point and abuse resulting from anger.

The parent who angrily assaults a child with hitting is a beast of a parent and one who needs help. Anger and intolerance are the culprits. Anger and intolerance seem to have become widespread in our society and may have to do with so many people taking various forms of medication. I can’t say that for sure, but it could be a factor.

Parenting classes are available and parents who hit their children (as you described) should be forced to attend anger management classes. After all, husbands and wives are often sent there… why not parents??

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