Just on these facts, it looks like a bad case and a bad precedent. Smells of lackadaisical public defenders too.
This parent, who left noticeable red marks, probably went well beyond what most parents regard as “spanking,” namely a few open-palmed swats to a doubly-clothed tuchus.
Not saying she belongs in jail, but I am saying this is not TYPICAL spanking at issue here, as the lede implies.
Just remember your children don’t belong to you. They belong to the state and the state graciously allows them to be near you. You are responsible for all of their action and you can be put in jail for your children’s actions.
But by God you aren’t allowed to discipline them with spanking in their formative years. We can’t allow well behaved children to disrupt our destruction of the family.
Child’s grandma reported it. If mother ever gets the child back will grandma ever see her again. If it were my child she wouldn’t.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
Hitting a kid who's not even TWO??? That's barbaric. As much as I despise the child welfare state, this woman did a horrible thing and is probably on her way to worse.
Leaving marks on a child not even two....that’s not spanking in my book. Sounds like a domestic dispute between mom and grandma, and mom sounds like she needs to get a grip.
I tanned my son’s hide just this last weekend for talking back to me in a smart*ss way.
The law in Texas allows spanking but not beating.
I had a deputy sheriff in my house tell a child that her parents could spank her if needed and that he would serve as a witness if she so desired.
Oh for cryin' out loud!
If this mother was spanking for discipline rather than beating in anger, THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!
so the “paternal” grandmother got custody and was the one who turned her in.....very interesting....very fishy...
“Leaving marks” implies that the child was beaten; I find that extremely hard to believe if the prosecutor is letting her off on probation and letting her have visitation rights! I have dealt with the Texas CPS (as a witness and with family members) and they are as about fanatical as you can get when it comes to the “It’s for the chill’ren!” motto! So, I call BS on this whole thing!
But, more importantly, when a child is old enough to get into things then they are old enough to begin receiving some form of corporal punishment. I have a 15 month old grandson who gets his hand slapped more than once - DAILY!
For all of the self-righteous fools who think you should not give corporal punishment to a child, I pray that you are blessed with one of the VERY few well-mannered, naturally docile kids. But more than likely, the time will come when something more than a “stern lecture” is needed!!
Besides, gotta keep those conviction stats up in order to get re-elected.
The mother in law must have some good connections.
Anything done in a rage is assault.
Anything that leaves marks is assault.
Especially to a two-year old.
America has lost it's mind.
There's really no hope for it's return, either.
I don't know what really happened in this case (thanks to incompetent journalism) but that statement from the judge is a broad brush of the law and he's full of it. What the heck was the "different quarrel" in "the old days?" Do kids not misbehave today? Do they not respond to discipline? I think a stroll through Youtube should be enough to answer that question.
Maybe hizzoner will stop at a Mickey D's and get his ass beat by some kids and find a clue in the process.
I myself think a mild spanking now and again (and hopefully NOT very often) can save a mountain of useless talk. That said, any spanking that leave marks for more than say, five minutes is not a spanking to me. I’d characterize that more as a beating. Beatings only teach children to be cowed. Not useful. The judge was out of line to say that no spanking is ever allowed by the state, but beatings are not only useless, they are cruel.
Spanking with a belt on the rear is perfectly legal in Texas; the judge needs to be removed along with the prosecutors:
“Striking a child above the waist is more likely to be considered abusive; disciplinary spanking is usually confined to the buttocks”
“Spanking with the bare, open hand is least likely to be abusive”
“Belts and hair brushes are accepted by many as legitimate disciplinary “tools,” and their use is not likely to be considered abusive, as long as injury does not occur.”
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/AG_Publications/txts/childabuse2.shtml