Poll: Were you spanked?

No. I can remember us kids getting threatened with the wooden spoon by my mother in her more stressed moments.

My father used to sit us down and have a chat with us when we did stuff really bad like sneaking out at night, stealing his car and stuff like that. My father was a good man because he had terrible upbringing that certainly would have involved violence in his broken family.

Nope, never. My parents were against it and I am, too.

Yes, I was spanked twice as a child. Once for calling my sister a very bad name (I was 5 and to this day I think she deserved it haha) and then the other time for going someplace I was told not to.

I spanked my daughter 3 times before deciding it was not the way I wanted to discipline my child. I believe there are other consequences that are more appropriate.

I was a very well-behaved child and my daughter is too. I'm not sure yet when she has children what she will decide to do. I only know that as a teen she wanted to drown her cousin in our pool so I hope she's grown out of that phase

No I was not and do not spank my kids.

Yes, but I only remember the times that I didn't deserve.

For my own kids, most discipline fit the crime, but on occasion, I had to resort to spanking, but there were rules.

1. I couldn't be angry
2. I had to use my hand
3. Two hits on the bottom, no more

I wasn't. It's been against the law here in Sweden since 1979, which I am really happy about. Of course children must be taught what's right and wrong, but physical punishment isn't the answer, in my opinion.

There was a really good episode of Dr Quinn Medicine Woman that really hit the nail on the head with this issue. A school teacher who resorted to physical punishment of her students was questioned by Dr Mike. The teacher said something like "I was struck as a child and it didn't do me any harm. In fact, I wouldn't be what I am today without it". Dr Mike replied "You're right. What you are is a child beater".

Yup, and many times it was well deserved.

dogs4thewin said:

yes but VERY rarely.

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Only once that I remember and that for something my parents felt put my life at risk.

I can live with that.

Oh and I think it is worth point out I've done myself far worse injuries several times. On a good day perhaps even 3 or 4 times. All my scars that 'point to' abuse were self inflicted, and none intentionally so. Abrasions happen as do broken bones.

Yes, often, and each one was well deserved.

Yes, quite frequently, and with a belt. I'm never going to spank my kids. It just brought out fear in me, not obedience.

Every once in a while I was. I can't think of a time where I did not consider it to be justified.

I was never spanked. I grew up in Sweden where it's been illegal since well before my time. Where I live now, it's not common either. With all the press and memes about 50 Shades of Gray spanking just seems like a kinky consensual adults-only sort of thing. I get that back in the 50s it was a punishment you gave to a child, but it would be weird spanking a kid nowadays.

I was spanked a few times. Spanked my sons a few times.
no big deal as far as I'm concern.

Yes I was spanked and I spanked my daughter and we both turned out good
The bible says spare the rod spoil the child
I only spanked when needed
My husband daughter was never spanked and her parents gave her everything
when she got older and I came into the picture she would call her dad at every hour day or night and expected her dad to drop everything an pick her up not matter if we had plans or not and she borrowed money and not paid us back she even wanted expensive things too even though the cheaper things were ok
She did not like me cause I set bounderies and time when to call
she is a single mom at 20 with a 2 year old

Mostly no, but I believe I was once throughout my whole childhood. I don't think spanking is a good method of discipline, it will only teach kids to be violent.

I was spanked every time my parents felt like it. Which thankfully wasn't a lot. It was just a sort of "you misbehave, we spank you" arrangement. But the problem was that they never clarified what sort of behavior warranted a spanking. So I'd only be informed that I was "gettin' a spankin'" after having done something bad. So it didn't deter me from doing anything, not that I was really a bad kid to begin with.

And it was always Dad. Mom couldn't hit hard enough But at least Dad only used his hand or maybe a belt, never a "switchblade".

If I have kids I wouldn't spank them, though. Physical harm is probably too light of a punishment and can instill fear in children. I'm not exactly afraid of my dad, but our relationship isn't as cordial as it should be. Instead of spanking my kids I'd just ground them and give them a real, lasting punishment. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" is just some verse in Proverbs that doesn't need to be taken as literally as it used to be due to the possibility of abusive parents nowadays and the invention of grounding your child.

country woman said:

My husband daughter was never spanked and her parents gave her everything
when she got older and I came into the picture she would call her dad at every hour day or night and expected her dad to drop everything an pick her up not matter if we had plans or not and she borrowed money and not paid us back she even wanted expensive things too even though the cheaper things were ok
She did not like me cause I set bounderies and time when to call
she is a single mom at 20 with a 2 year old

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It's not because they didn't spank her, though. It's just that they failed at employing any other method of parenting. Spanking her wouldn't have made them any better at teaching her how to think critically and make responsible decisions.

grandvizier1006 said:

I was spanked every time my parents felt like it. Which thankfully wasn't a lot. It was just a sort of "you misbehave, we spank you" arrangement. But the problem was that they never clarified what sort of behavior warranted a spanking. So I'd only be informed that I was "gettin' a spankin'" after having done something bad. So it didn't deter me from doing anything, not that I was really a bad kid to begin with.

And it was always Dad. Mom couldn't hit hard enough But at least Dad only used his hand or maybe a belt, never a "switchblade".

If I have kids I wouldn't spank them, though. Physical harm is probably too light of a punishment and can instill fear in children. I'm not exactly afraid of my dad, but our relationship isn't as cordial as it should be. Instead of spanking my kids I'd just ground them and give them a real, lasting punishment. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" is just some verse in Proverbs that doesn't need to be taken as literally as it used to be due to the possibility of abusive parents nowadays and the invention of grounding your child.

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Bolding mine.

Amusing that so many take literally a verse that literally is not there.

There is no verse that says this!

Amusing how many of the verses most quotes are not there at all, are late additions or are taken out of context so grossly as to be a misquote.

On that last. Scripture says 'For the love of money is the root of all (sorts of) evil'. Not money itself.

I was spanked once (according to my parents). I don't remember it. I was threatened with it a lot though.

I spanked my kids a few times while they were old enough to understand cause and effect, but too young to discuss things. When they got old enough to talk about things, I used other discipline.