I rarely had to spank my kids in public but when I did it was always quickly and out of the public eye. It was rare because my kids knew better too. Often that “look” from Dad was enough. The first swat was firm but not painful, if needed, the second one was painful.
We never negociated. I cringe when I hear a parent say, “Do you want a spanking?” For my kids, it was already too late.
When my son was about four we were in the supermarket and the kid in front of us was in total melt down over not getting some piece of candy. My son looked at me and said, “Dad, that boy needs a spanking.”. The guy behind us in line said, “He sure does.”. The point is that my son got it.
Both my kids are grown, well adjusted and happy adults. We respect and love each other greatly.
How often to we see parents threaten children with consequences for behavior and then never follow through with the threat? These parents are breaking the Commandment to not bear false witness.
It begins at home. In my experience, 90% of tantrums are at home (becuase that’s where kids spend most of there time), and that is where the rules are set.
AMEN. We always taught our kids to respect other peoples' property. One time one of the neighbors brought their kids over and they started jumping up and down on our sofa. Soon mine were joining in and then that's when mine got swatted and the others flushed out. Our kids whined as to why they got smacked when "everybody was doing it". "NOT in our house" was the answer.