[My hearts in London - Everett]

When I was married and lived in South Carolina when my girls were little, a woman in the checkout line behind my family told me she was going to call child services because my husband swatted my daughters' hand for touching things while we waited in line. Never heard anything from anyone, but she spoke to me and certainly threatened it.

[brytlea]

I suspect that if she really did call them they either told her they had actual real problems to deal with, or they patted her on the head, thanked her, and sent her on her way.

I do remember once one of my sons took a candy bar at the grocery check out and opened it and started to eat it. He was about 3 or 4, and so he knew it was wrong, but I think he thought that if he had already opened it, I would have to give it to him. Of course, I took it from him and told the cashier that I wanted to pay for it.

She told me, Oh, no, you don’t have to pay for it, don’t worry about it. And I said, No, my son opened it and I’ll pay for it. I did, and then I ate it in front of him. He was stunned! I’m sure the people in the line thought I was an ogre, but you know what? To my knowledge that boy has not stolen anything since.

I will admit that I didn’t generally spank my children in public. Of course, they also generally behaved in public because they knew what would happen to them if they didn’t!