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>Hi Taylor, > >I never really thought about it from that angle, but I >think the mixing of humor and discipline was part of >what made me so uncomfortable about those "cutesy" >paddles. I was a pretty well-behaved kid, and it was >just me and my mom. I didn't get many spankings at >all, so if I DID get one, then it was a big deal. And >the idea of putting silly sayings on a spanking tool >made light of a serious situation. And that was on top >of having them just sitting out in public! This was a >time and place when I would bet that most kids got >spanked, but nobody ever talked about it. I can only >remember the topic coming up with a friend once when I >was probably 8 or 9. We were in her backyard, and I >saw that most of the fruit on their grapefruit tree >was gone. Apparently, her little brother, who was a >couple years younger than us, picked all the fruit he >could reach and left them to rot on the ground. She >told me that he had to clean it all up, and then he >got a spanking with 32 spanks, one for each wasted >grapefruit. At the time, I remember thinking that he >got off easy. 😆 > >Other than that one time, it felt like the topic was >pretty hush hush. Would I have been less embarrassed >by the idea of getting a spanking if people talked >about it more openly? Honestly, probably not, lol. I >was a fairly sensitive kid. > >As for a greater acceptance of spanking in the >present, well, maybe? This is a parenting forum, and >I'm not a parent, so I understand if my opinion >doesn't hold as much weight. But I tend to think it >really depends on the individual child, and their >relationship to the parent/ guardian imposing the >discipline. I can only analyze it through the lens of >my own childhood. > >Unfortunately, I think most of the people who >publically advocate for corporal punishment aren't >really a shining example that bolsters their argument. >They make sweeping statements about how the problem >with the younger generation >is that they didn't get spanked. I'm old enough (late >40s) that it annoys me to no end to see kids running >around like hooligans in shops or restaurants. But, I >had that same attitude when I was young too. (As >evidenced by my 8 year old self being unimpressed with >the severity of the grapefruit vandal's spanking, lol.) > >I suppose it really comes down to instilling respect >in children for their parents. Spanking can be a tool >to do that, but it's not the only one, and I think it >has to be used thoughtfully. If I was getting out of >bounds, all it took was a look from my mom to reel me >back in. And it wasn't because I was in immediate >fear of getting spanked, it was simply the >recognition that Mom Was Not Pleased, and further >disobedience would result in unpleasant consequences. >Maybe a time out, or being sent home from play time >with other kids, or most effectively, just her >disappointment. Spanking was only one of the possible >consequences, and probably the least utilized. >Personally, I actually think I could have benefited >from being spanked more often, IF it was done >consistently, not in anger, and if it was a real clean >slate afterwards. My mom did a great job under very >difficult circumstances. I always knew that I was >loved. But, since I was so well-behaved, it was rare >that I got in trouble, and she wasn't always >consistent when it came to discipline, so I often >didn't know exactly where I stood, and walked on >eggshells, waryof her variable moods. (She was >diagnosed as bipolar decades later, which explained so >much.) I would have definitely preferred a spanking >when I broke an established rule, and then real >forgiveness, rather than a slap across the face and >simmering anger for hours or days. > >Anyway, I see that I have written a novel, and >mistaken this space for free therapy. My apologies >for the stream of consciousness babbling. > >Ginger

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